Launch into the Depths |
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A talk delivered by Chloe Stiles, a member (at the time) of the Kitchener YSA Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints one Sunday in October, 2017. I thought this was a very well expressed testimony and requested Chloe's permission to include it in this blog.
Throughout the scriptures, Jesus Christ performs some of his most powerful miracles on water.
When Christ first begins his moral ministry, we find him walking by the sea of Galilee. He sees two hardworking men washing their nets after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. In Luke, we read that “he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. He said unto Simon, “Launch out into the deep.” The Lord, a stranger to Simon at this point, asked this tired fisherman to get back into his boat and to cast off from the shore, to leave the promise of rest and safety, and once more brave the deep. Once there, the Lord asks Peter to “let down his net”, and, as Luke continues
“...when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. He was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And Simon kneeled before Christ, recognizing his unworthiness, and Christ said unto him, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
Three things stand out in this story:
When Christ first begins his moral ministry, we find him walking by the sea of Galilee. He sees two hardworking men washing their nets after a long, unsuccessful night of fishing. In Luke, we read that “he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. He said unto Simon, “Launch out into the deep.” The Lord, a stranger to Simon at this point, asked this tired fisherman to get back into his boat and to cast off from the shore, to leave the promise of rest and safety, and once more brave the deep. Once there, the Lord asks Peter to “let down his net”, and, as Luke continues
“...when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. He was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And Simon kneeled before Christ, recognizing his unworthiness, and Christ said unto him, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
Three things stand out in this story:
First is how Christ commanded Simon to launch into the deep,
second is the blessing the Lord gave Simon for his obedience - the huge amount of fish they caught,
and third is that they forsook all, left that mass of fish, which could have made them very wealthy, to follow Christ, who had been mere hours earlier, a complete stranger.
Today I want to focus on the idea of launching out into the deep and how,
when we follow Simon’s example,
we can gain much more out of this life than
we may have envisioned for ourselves.
We can gain what the Lord has envisioned for us,
which is always so much More than we can comprehend.
Now, first, let us imagine for a moment an alternative history.
What if when Christ had asked Simon to launch out into the deep he had pointed out that he had just been out in the deep all night with no success. What is he had justifiably told the Lord that he was too tired, or that his command didn’t make any sense? What if he had argued that he had been a fisherman his whole life and knew better than a carpenter’s son? Think of what Simon would have missed had he allowed his limited mortal logic and traditional common sense prevail?
Are there times in our life when we are asked to do things that seemingly make no sense? When we are tired, when we have already tried something for a long time, or when what is asked doesn’t seem to make sense? Are there times when we don’t launch into the deep because we just want to stay where it is safe, and calm, and because we think we know better?
Jeffrey R. Holland wrote of Christ’s commandment to “launch into the deep” saying
What if when Christ had asked Simon to launch out into the deep he had pointed out that he had just been out in the deep all night with no success. What is he had justifiably told the Lord that he was too tired, or that his command didn’t make any sense? What if he had argued that he had been a fisherman his whole life and knew better than a carpenter’s son? Think of what Simon would have missed had he allowed his limited mortal logic and traditional common sense prevail?
Are there times in our life when we are asked to do things that seemingly make no sense? When we are tired, when we have already tried something for a long time, or when what is asked doesn’t seem to make sense? Are there times when we don’t launch into the deep because we just want to stay where it is safe, and calm, and because we think we know better?
Jeffrey R. Holland wrote of Christ’s commandment to “launch into the deep” saying
“Peter could not have known the ever-widening circles that single command would make in the stream of his plain and simple life. He was launching out into the expanse of godliness, into the eternal possibilities of redeemed and celestial life. He would be learning the mysteries of the kingdom. He would be hearing unspeakable things.” But before Simon could learn those mysteries, he had to act with faith. It takes faith to put our net into the water, it takes action. He had to go into the deep, and then he had to lower his net, back in the unfruitful waters of the night before.
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Importantly, we learn here that the deep is only good and fruitful when go there with Christ and for Christ. Like so many things in life, it is Christ who makes the differences, that it is by our faith that we enable him to bless us and bless others. I can’t help but think of missionary work, and how often our missionaries labour all night in the deep, and come to shore with empty boats, only to be commanded out again, perhaps to the very same stretch of street they have tracked before, and faithfully, obediently, dip their nets back into the water, and then miraculously, their boats and their hearts of filled as they find the searching soul.
And what did Simon do after he had this amazing blessing? Perhaps he had prayed for this very miracle before, or fantasized about it on those night when no fish were biting… and he it was, a fisherman’s dream! And what does he do? He walks away. Why? Because now he knew the Jesus was the Christ. Because he understood something that we often forget… that the blessing is not the point. The blessing is a mechanism to build faith, it is meant as a conduit to Christ.
Our focus should not be on what blessings we will receive for our obedience, but our focus should be on how being obedient to his will brings us closer to Him. In doing so the lord can lead us to places that we could never go alone. The path is not always what we think it is. Simon could have said "hey, what a great miracle, my life is better now, thank you," and stayed with his catch, and had a great story to tell for the rest of his now comfortable life. But he did not. He went with his Christ, for now Jesus was his personal Saviour, and Simon knew that the miracle of the fish was not the point of his act of faith, but the true reward, was that now he could be with Christ, that he was now Christ’s disciple, and that Christ would be his tutor.
This is when Simon truly went into the deep, when he returned to shore and forsook all to follow Christ, launching himself into Gods work. As Holland reiterates,“To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Simon brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectacular single catch ever taken from Galilee, ‘forsook all, and followed him.’”
And so we must be ready to forsake all, even those things that the Lord has given us,
to go with Him,
to be his disciple,
and to have His companionship.
As tempting as a pile of fish is, walking beside the Saviour is the greatest reward, and Simon, now Peter, recognized that at once. His temporal blessing brought him to the Saviour, not away from the Lord, because He saw them for what they were and recognized what was most valuable.
And what did Simon do after he had this amazing blessing? Perhaps he had prayed for this very miracle before, or fantasized about it on those night when no fish were biting… and he it was, a fisherman’s dream! And what does he do? He walks away. Why? Because now he knew the Jesus was the Christ. Because he understood something that we often forget… that the blessing is not the point. The blessing is a mechanism to build faith, it is meant as a conduit to Christ.
Our focus should not be on what blessings we will receive for our obedience, but our focus should be on how being obedient to his will brings us closer to Him. In doing so the lord can lead us to places that we could never go alone. The path is not always what we think it is. Simon could have said "hey, what a great miracle, my life is better now, thank you," and stayed with his catch, and had a great story to tell for the rest of his now comfortable life. But he did not. He went with his Christ, for now Jesus was his personal Saviour, and Simon knew that the miracle of the fish was not the point of his act of faith, but the true reward, was that now he could be with Christ, that he was now Christ’s disciple, and that Christ would be his tutor.
This is when Simon truly went into the deep, when he returned to shore and forsook all to follow Christ, launching himself into Gods work. As Holland reiterates,“To launch out into that limitless sea of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Simon brought his craft to shore, turned his back on the most spectacular single catch ever taken from Galilee, ‘forsook all, and followed him.’”
And so we must be ready to forsake all, even those things that the Lord has given us,
to go with Him,
to be his disciple,
and to have His companionship.
As tempting as a pile of fish is, walking beside the Saviour is the greatest reward, and Simon, now Peter, recognized that at once. His temporal blessing brought him to the Saviour, not away from the Lord, because He saw them for what they were and recognized what was most valuable.
But being out in the deep is not always as easy, and the blessing not as ready and abundant as they were in this instance. Sometimes the deep is much less friendly. In another familiar story, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him by ship into the deep of Galilee as he goes up the mountain to pray. We read how the winds were contrary and the water was in high waves. The ship wasn’t making much progress, but was tossed about. Like us at times, Peter and the disciples were in the midst of a tempestuous sea. Then Jesus came out to them, walking on the sea, defying the wind and the tempest. With hope, Peter came down out of the boat into the storm-tossed sea and walked toward the Lord as if it were on dry ground. With his faith and his focus on Christ, coupled with his determined action, permitted him to receive the power of walking on the water, a power he did not have on his own. Like before, he obediently launched into the deep, and like before, Peter took action in obedience, and like before he was miraculously blessed… this time with the power to be ABOVE the deep and to defy the tumult of the wind.
So it is with us: As we look to Christ in faith we will be granted the power to do what we otherwise cannot. And also like Peter, when, in our inevitable imperfection, we face doubt, fear, or anguish, and we begin to sink, as we cry out to the lord he will immediately stretch forth his hand to catch us. And why can He do so? Because we have acted in faith and have brought ourselves closer to him. Peter was walking to Christ, he had closed the distance between himself and his Saviour, so when he faltered, the Lord was right there beside him to reach down and save him. We too must draw close to the Saviour, we must close the gap so that the Lord’s grace is easily available in our time of need. All of us need such an enabling power as we truly cannot navigate the deep and the tempests without it.
With this last miracle in mind, there is another element that is important for us to think about as we boldly go out into the deep…. We must have faith in ourselves; in our own ability to receive guidance and revelation. This is was empowers us to act. As a result, we can receive the assurance that we do know the will of God, through our own personal revelation, and are able to carry it out. Perhaps Christ sent them out on the waters alone so that they could learn that He would always come for them, and that they could, if they had the faith, walk on the water and be above the deep tumult of the world.
There is a beautiful passage in Psalms 107 which illustrates so beautifully what I wish to express to you. Verse 23 to 29 read:
So it is with us: As we look to Christ in faith we will be granted the power to do what we otherwise cannot. And also like Peter, when, in our inevitable imperfection, we face doubt, fear, or anguish, and we begin to sink, as we cry out to the lord he will immediately stretch forth his hand to catch us. And why can He do so? Because we have acted in faith and have brought ourselves closer to him. Peter was walking to Christ, he had closed the distance between himself and his Saviour, so when he faltered, the Lord was right there beside him to reach down and save him. We too must draw close to the Saviour, we must close the gap so that the Lord’s grace is easily available in our time of need. All of us need such an enabling power as we truly cannot navigate the deep and the tempests without it.
With this last miracle in mind, there is another element that is important for us to think about as we boldly go out into the deep…. We must have faith in ourselves; in our own ability to receive guidance and revelation. This is was empowers us to act. As a result, we can receive the assurance that we do know the will of God, through our own personal revelation, and are able to carry it out. Perhaps Christ sent them out on the waters alone so that they could learn that He would always come for them, and that they could, if they had the faith, walk on the water and be above the deep tumult of the world.
There is a beautiful passage in Psalms 107 which illustrates so beautifully what I wish to express to you. Verse 23 to 29 read:
They that go down to the sea in ships, |
This verse tells me that those who take vigorously take action and who focus on doing good and being righteous, are able to see, if they look for it, the miracles and wonders around us despite the wickedness and tumults found in the world.
We must have courage of heart knowing that Heavenly Father is in control of all things.
And when we begin to falter in that courage, and tremble at the tempest we are facing, then we are able to call upon the powers of Heaven to bring relief to your weary soul as he fills you with peace.
We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward.
We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior--
He who has never failed and will never fail us!
Faith is a principle of action. Faith in Christ is inextricably tied to, and results in, hope in Christ for our redemption and exaltation. And assurance and hope make it possible for us to walk to the edge of the light and take a few steps into the darkness—expecting and trusting the light to move and illuminate the way. The combination of assurance and hope initiates action in the present. The witness we obtained after the trial of our faith is evidence that enlarges and strengthens our assurance. Like Simon, who became Peter, who thrust into eh deep and acted in obedience, and learned, through a miraculous blessing, that Jesus was the Christ.
We should not be afraid of work. When things arise we must act with vigour and determination, as long as it is a righteous thing, putting our whole selves into it and doing our very best. We must work with others, some of whom will have different strengths and be at different places in their faith, as they do their best to support, to uplift, and to encourage. We must launch into the depths of Christlike service, being willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light, willing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort (cf. Mosiah 18:8-10).
It is through service that we strengthen each other and help one another stay strong in difficult times. As it says in Alma 26, verse 6: "Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.”
When it comes down to it,
guidance will come as we pray to our Heavenly Father,
strength will come because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
healing and forgiveness will come because of God’s grace,
wisdom and patience will come by trusting in the Lord’s timing for us,
and protection will come by following God’s living prophet.
It’s about having full purpose of heart and truly taking advantage of our mortal experience by launching ourselves into the depths of action, transforming our beliefs into action through service, church attendance, and living in accordance with gospel standards.
We must go out into the world and take action. That is where the miracles take place. That is where growth happens. That is where an applicable, exercisable testimony is born. I ask you, what do we learn when we stay in the shallows? How can we become stronger if we stay where it is safe and known? Using the analogy of the refuge of the shore compared to the tumult of the sea, we must launch ourselves into the depths, beyond the shallows, where we will grow strong as we face Nature’s tempests, just as the baby tree grows a strong trunk in windy climates. In doing so we will gain valuable earthly experience and inevitably become more like Christ. Indeed, we will walk on the water, above the deep, and have Christ as our companion.
We must have courage of heart knowing that Heavenly Father is in control of all things.
And when we begin to falter in that courage, and tremble at the tempest we are facing, then we are able to call upon the powers of Heaven to bring relief to your weary soul as he fills you with peace.
We fail only if we fail to take another faithful step forward.
We will not, we cannot, fail if we are faithfully yoked to the Savior--
He who has never failed and will never fail us!
Faith is a principle of action. Faith in Christ is inextricably tied to, and results in, hope in Christ for our redemption and exaltation. And assurance and hope make it possible for us to walk to the edge of the light and take a few steps into the darkness—expecting and trusting the light to move and illuminate the way. The combination of assurance and hope initiates action in the present. The witness we obtained after the trial of our faith is evidence that enlarges and strengthens our assurance. Like Simon, who became Peter, who thrust into eh deep and acted in obedience, and learned, through a miraculous blessing, that Jesus was the Christ.
We should not be afraid of work. When things arise we must act with vigour and determination, as long as it is a righteous thing, putting our whole selves into it and doing our very best. We must work with others, some of whom will have different strengths and be at different places in their faith, as they do their best to support, to uplift, and to encourage. We must launch into the depths of Christlike service, being willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light, willing to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort (cf. Mosiah 18:8-10).
It is through service that we strengthen each other and help one another stay strong in difficult times. As it says in Alma 26, verse 6: "Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.”
When it comes down to it,
guidance will come as we pray to our Heavenly Father,
strength will come because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
healing and forgiveness will come because of God’s grace,
wisdom and patience will come by trusting in the Lord’s timing for us,
and protection will come by following God’s living prophet.
It’s about having full purpose of heart and truly taking advantage of our mortal experience by launching ourselves into the depths of action, transforming our beliefs into action through service, church attendance, and living in accordance with gospel standards.
We must go out into the world and take action. That is where the miracles take place. That is where growth happens. That is where an applicable, exercisable testimony is born. I ask you, what do we learn when we stay in the shallows? How can we become stronger if we stay where it is safe and known? Using the analogy of the refuge of the shore compared to the tumult of the sea, we must launch ourselves into the depths, beyond the shallows, where we will grow strong as we face Nature’s tempests, just as the baby tree grows a strong trunk in windy climates. In doing so we will gain valuable earthly experience and inevitably become more like Christ. Indeed, we will walk on the water, above the deep, and have Christ as our companion.