Fishers of Men – Trusting the Call Beyond Fear

“Fishers of Men” – 48" x 36" Oil on Canvas

One of the most powerful stories in the Gospels takes place on the shore of Galilee, where Jesus calls Simon to leave everything behind and follow Him. The scene begins with Jesus teaching the crowds from Simon’s empty boat, but it quickly becomes a life-changing moment.

After finishing His teaching, Jesus tells Simon to push out into deeper waters and let down his nets. Simon hesitates—he has just finished cleaning his nets after a long night with no fish. Yet his response is simple: “If you say so.”

That act of obedience opened the door to a miracle.

The Miracle of the Overflowing Nets

When Simon lets down the nets, they fill with so many fish that they begin to tear. He calls for another boat, and soon both are overflowing, sinking from the weight of abundance.

But the miracle of the catch wasn’t the only transformation happening in that moment. Simon, overwhelmed by what he witnessed, falls to his knees before Jesus. Instead of rejoicing in the blessing, he cries out: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Luke 5:8)

Why would he respond this way? Because when confronted with the wonders of God, Simon suddenly saw what he must have believed was his unworthiness. He wasn’t just in awe of the miracle—he was in awe of the One who performed it.

Jesus Sees Who We Really Are

Jesus doesn’t dwell on Simon’s sin, nor does He affirm his feelings of unworthiness. Instead, He speaks straight to Simon’s identity: “Do not be afraid. From now on, you will fish for people.”

Simon was caught between fear and faith. Yet Jesus called him beyond fear into a new identity—a Fisher of Men. He was invited to see himself not as he had been, but as he was created to be.

And so, Simon left everything—the nets, the fish, the security of his old life—and followed Jesus.

Faith That Moves Us Forward

In this moment, Simon’s journey mirrors our own. At first, his faith was small but real: “If you say so, Lord, I’ll cast the net again.” In the end, his faith grew into trust—not only in who Jesus was, but in who Jesus said Simon was.

This is the invitation for each of us: to hear His call, to quiet the fear, and to step into the purpose God has placed before us. What miracle is waiting on the other side of your obedience? What call has God placed on your life that requires you to let go of fear and trust Him?

About the Painting

In my painting, “Fishers of Men,” I wanted to capture both the miracle of the nets bursting with fish and the deeper miracle—the calling of Simon Peter. The light and intensity of the scene point us to that defining moment where fear meets faith, and where a fisherman becomes a disciple.

Simon’s story reminds us that God does not call the perfect—He calls the willing. He sees beyond our fear, beyond our past, and beyond our failures. He sees the person He created us to be.

So, what have you been called to?

Luke 5:1-11 devotional