One More Time—Because He Said So : Luke 5:1–11 (NIV)

There’s something sacred about time with my Dad. His wisdom, especially when it comes to the Word of God, always draws me in. Last week, we were catching up when I told him about The Chosen, a series created by Dallas Jenkins that brings the stories of the Gospels to life with breathtaking detail and humanity. If you haven’t seen it, The Chosen is a multi-season show based on the life of Jesus and His disciples. It’s deeply personal, incredibly well-written, and it has a way of making you fall in love with Jesus all over again.

My dad agreed to try it out and y’all, he loved it. One season in one night! We’ve all had that show that grips us like that. A couple of days later, we were on the phone talking about a specific episode, the one where Jesus calls Simon Peter and asks him to cast out his net one more time (Luke 5:1–11). After we hung up, I couldn’t shake the scene. I watched it again on YouTube, and then opened my Bible to read the story straight from the source. That’s when the Holy Spirit met me and placed a powerful revelation in my heart.

Let’s set the scene.

Simon had been fishing all night and caught absolutely nothing. Nothing! He was tired, discouraged, and probably questioning his own skill. This wasn’t a hobby, it was his livelihood. So, when Jesus showed up and asked him to go back out to the same lake, the same place that had rejected his efforts, it must have felt pointless. But here’s where everything shifts: this time, Simon went not in his own strength, but on the Word of Jesus.

Luke 5:5 says,

“Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” (NIV)

Because you say so.

Whew. That line alone will preach. Jesus didn’t give Simon a strategy, a detailed explanation, or even a promise of success. Just an instruction. And Simon responded in obedience.

Here’s what the Lord showed me: sometimes, the very place that once yielded nothing—the dream that failed, the relationship that drained you, the door that slammed in your face—is the same place God will call you back to. But the difference is this time, you’re not going on your own. You’re going under divine instruction.

Ecclesiastes 5:9 says,

“The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.” (NIV)

The earth must yield when the King commands it. The same sea that had denied Simon’s efforts all night became the source of a miraculous harvest at Jesus' Word. When God speaks, creation must respond. The fish didn’t just appear, they were called.

The Holy Spirit whispered to my heart,

“Ketisha, the same place that rejected you will bless you. Not because the place changed, but because I’m in it this time.”

What if that "place" in your life isn’t a physical location, but a situation? A calling? A business idea? A person you’ve been praying for? What if you’ve been standing on the shore, refusing to return to the waters of disappointment, while God is saying, “Try again. One more time. Because I said so.”

And when Simon obeyed? The results were mind-blowing.

“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”(Luke 5:6, NIV)

It was more than enough. More than he expected. More than he could handle alone. That sounds like Ephesians 3:20 to me:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (NIV)

But here’s the kicker, Simon didn’t just gain fish. He gained a calling. After the miracle, Jesus said:

“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” (Luke 5:10, NIV)

And Simon’s response?

“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:11, NIV)

Simon saw the abundance. But he also saw the Authority behind it. He walked away from the very miracle he received to follow the Miracle Worker Himself. So here’s the reflection for all of us: Have you written something off because it didn’t work last time? Have you convinced yourself God wouldn’t ask you to return to that place, try again, or believe again? Maybe, like me, you’ve been hesitant, waiting for God to speak again when He already has. Maybe He’s saying, “One more time. Go back, but this time…go with Me.”

The difference isn’t in the lake. It’s in the Lord.

So today, ask yourself: What’s my lake? What’s the thing I’ve abandoned in disappointment? Where is God asking me to return and cast again, not for fish, but for faith?

Let’s be like Simon. Let’s say, “Because You say so, I will.”

Because with Jesus in your boat, even empty waters overflow.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being the God of second launches, third chances, and immeasurable grace. Help us to recognise when You are calling us to go again. Remove fear, disappointment, and pride from our hearts. Give us the faith to say, “Because You say so, we will.” May our obedience open the doors to abundance, not just for us individually saying this prayer, but for those we're called to impact. In Jesus’ name, Amen. With Love & Prayers, Ketisha