“He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” Luke 5:4 NKJV
I wanted to fly; not in an airplane, really fly – ride the winds, catch the clouds, touch the stars.
The closest that I got was on the big swing set at my elementary school. The bigger, braver kids would hop in a swing, push back as far as possible, then begin to swing. Pushing and pumping with all their might until at last the swinger sailed as high as the top bar of the swing set.
That was the moment of magic when you turned loose of the swing, launched from your perch, and soared across the sky in a magnificent arc. Sure, the landings could be ugly but for a few glorious seconds you were flying.
I tried to do it like the big kids. I managed to jump a few times – more like a hop from a much lower altitude. More often, at the height of my swing, I would bravely jump and simultaneously panic. Wildly catching the swing’s chains, I would hold on for dear life with most of my body hanging below the swing’s seat. With loud shrieks, body dangling, and legs kicking, descent was quick and painful as the swing returned to its starting point crashing legs, knees, and other body parts into the ground.
My third-grade knees lived in bandages; my grown-up scars still testify to my failed attempts to fly.
Failure to launch.
How often have you been excited by the certainty that God had called you to serve: to teach a Bible study, work in children’s ministry, mentor a young believer, pray aloud in front others, sing in a praise team, or invite your neighbor to church? Service that would honor God and serve His Kingdom. Service that God called you to do.
And how often have you started that step forward to answer the call only to feel the panic rising – fear overtaking, halting you midstep. Your mind flooded with uncertainties, “does God really want me to do this?” You grab for the chains – the many reasons “why I can’t” – no time, too shy, too young, too old, don’t know how, don’t know enough, not equipped, not enough.
You stop. You don’t move forward; you don’t move at all. You tell yourself, “Later. Another time.” And that miraculous, breath-taking moment when you should be launching in faith into the opportunity that God Himself has gifted to you is gone.
Failure to launch.
After preaching to the crowds from the deck of Simon’s boat, Jesus instructed Simon to launch into the deep to let down his nets. Though tired from a long, futile night of fishing, Simon obeyed, and miraculously his nets were filled to the breaking point.
Successful launch.
When God tells you to launch, turn loose of the swing’s chains and soar – knowing with certainty that “He who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
He equips the called. (Ephesians 4:12)
He can be trusted in all things. (Isaiah 12:2; 26:4)