September 2021

Those five words hit me like a truck: “Launch out into the deep!”

Immediately, resistance reared up: Deep? Into the D-E-E-P? Nah, I don’t think so…I’ve tried that before; it didn’t work.

Simon Peter felt the same: “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing…”

If Simon says: “This is not a good idea,” it’s not a good idea. He’s a fisherman, so he knows how the darkness of night provides the best conditions for fishing with nets in the clear waters of a lake. After toiling all night without success, it seemed hopeless to fish by day.

Ever been there? Where Peter was? You’ve tried something again and again, but it’s useless—useless! Nothing works!

For me, with dyslexia, going to university was completely out of the question until God blew open one door after another and invited me to “Launch out into the deep!”

Father, You know how hard it is for me to even read one chapter from my Bible, and now You’re asking the impossible?

“Deep” means not shallow, beyond where you can stand comfortably with your head above the surface. “Deep” means extending far down, where the waters grow dark, away from the edge, below the surface.

God also summons you: “Launch out into the deep!”

What’s holding you back? Apparent limitations, past failures, fear of criticism, too much pressure, setbacks, bad timing, feels wrong, makes no sense, can’t do it alone—the list goes on and on and on.

Peter’s reply? “I will do as You say and lower the nets again” (Luke 5:5 AMP).

That’s how it works: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.

“When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were at the point of breaking” (Luke 5:6 AMP).
I can hear the protests ringing in my ears: “That was then: another time, another place, another country. That can’t happen now, here in Canada.”

Excuse me for asking: “Why?”

“Well, we’re living in a post-Christian culture. No simple-minded fishermen here! Interest in Jesus is rock bottom.”

Yes, some are indifferent towards Christ in Canada, and I too have questioned the effectiveness of launching out into the deep. René is not a fisherwoman, and I am not a fisherman; but God has called us to be a fishers of men and women, boys and girls—connecting Canadians to Christ. Daily we are seeing the effectiveness of launching out into the deep and casting our nets on the other side of the boat. Look at this response from one of our viewers: “Every time I turn on my television to watch another program, your program is like magically on… like it was meant to be on for me. God is trying to talk to me through you two. I am a non-practicing Christian; however, I have become a believer in God. I have unfortunately suffered from setbacks and addictions… Thank you so much for touching me through your show. I don’t have many friends, but I don’t need a lot of friends because Jesus is my friend, and the only real friend I now need. Thank you for showing me this.”

We invite you to join us by praying for It Is Written Canada, sharing our online messages with your friends and family on social media, sending us your story, and watching our Virtual Partnership Event, where you will hear music and messages from God’s Word to inspire you to Launch out into the Deep!

~ Mike Lemon