Luke 5 Series: Don’t Let Your Surroundings Distract You (Daily Devotional)

Scripture: Luke 5:3-5 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”

Thought: Don’t let your surroundings or circumstances distract you. If you continue living in shallow waters, it may seem safe, but only in deep water will your faith grow.

Devotional:

Simon had just come through a long night of labor with nothing to show for it. Exhausted, disappointed, and maybe questioning himself, he was likely caught in the mental loop we all face after failure: Did I do something wrong? Did God forget me? Why did I come up empty?

Still, Jesus was there—right in the middle of the mundane, seated in Simon’s boat, teaching a crowd hungry for truth. But Simon’s discouragement dulled his ears. Though Jesus’ message filled the air, Simon was focused inward, distracted by earthly realities. It wasn’t until Jesus issued a personal command—“Put out into deep water”—that Simon was pulled from his fog and into an act of faith.

Discouragement can make us spiritually blind. Like Simon, we can be near Jesus —by being in church, reading Scripture, or even serving in ministry—and still miss Him. The noise of our surroundings, the weight of our circumstances, or the sting of disappointment clouds our spiritual vision. We expect earthly effort to always equal results. But the kingdom doesn’t work that way.

Jesus’ instruction to move into deeper waters wasn’t just about catching fish. It was about changing Simon’s focus—from the shallows of earthly striving to the depths of spiritual surrender. Jesus was not simply asking Simon to try again; He was inviting him to see through spiritual eyes.

We, too, must ask: Where is my focus? When life doesn’t yield the results we expect, are we fixating on failure or listening for Jesus’ voice? The invitation to deeper waters often feels uncomfortable, even illogical—but it leads to transformation. It’s in the deep that we face the storms. He reveals the depths of the Word and grows us through sanctification—but it’s also where we find Jesus, shaping our lives for kingdom purposes.

Reflection:

Jesus is not afraid to call you out of the comfort of shallow waters and into deeper faith. But distractions—emotional exhaustion, disappointment, worldly focus—can keep your boat anchored near the shore. Will you respond like Simon, acknowledging your discouragement but obeying anyway? There’s more for you in the deep.

Reflection Questions:

1. What earthly distractions are keeping you anchored in shallow waters?

2. In what ways has disappointment or weariness clouded your spiritual vision?

3. Can you relate to Simon’s reluctance? What situation in your life feels like “fishing all night and catching nothing”?

4. How might Jesus be inviting you into deeper trust or greater obedience right now?

5. What does it look like for you personally to move your faith into “deeper waters”?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess that I often allow my surroundings and circumstances to drown out Your voice. Like Simon, I’ve been weary, discouraged, and spiritually blind. But today, I choose to trust You. Even when I don’t understand the timing or the reason, I want to follow You into deeper waters. Change my focus from the temporary to the eternal. Let my faith grow not in calm harbors but in the great depths where You refine and reveal. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see. I am ready to obey. Amen.