While in Germany on holiday to spend time with our four grown children and three grandchildren, I came across a beautiful devotion by a German theologian, Joeg Zink, and I want you to get some of its notion.

When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break …. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” (Luke, 5:4-6,10b, NRSV)

It is the story of an experiment. There is one listening and then he is doing something foolish. What follows is an experience on which he will bet his whole life and his professional existence.

He is called, leaves everything behind and gets on his way though he does not know yet where it will lead him.

When Jesus called a person in this way, it was not just an order, but also a liberation. He meant it like this: you are freer than you think. You can turn around. You can start anew. You can change habits and check convictions. You can change if you want to, even if it appears hard. You are not defined. At the moment the calls hits you, you have the chance to be free.

Not defined, Jesus? Not even by my duties? No.

Not even by my family? No.

Not even by my genes? No.

Not by my circumstances either? No.

Not by my mental difficulties either? No.

In the moment when you accept the call you are free.

And several stood up and went with him: tax collectors left their coffers, rebels left their weapons and fishermen left their boats behind.

But what shall I do now? He might have asked.

You shall show people the totally different, the new thing, the coming thing, the Kingdom of God, and make them free just like you are free. You don’t need a weapon, no baggage, no money, just the Word. You will go through a narrow door and you cannot take much with you. You will walk a narrow path but you walk as a free person with a wide heart.

It won’t sit well with many. It disturbs their idea of security and value. You go defenceless among the wolves. When sheep are alone, the wolves lick their lips.

You will be lonely. People will laugh at you. Rejection, sniffing, shrugging of shoulders. Then keep walking and look at me. You won’t be luckier than me. They called me a crazy man. You will be called a fool.

They call me a devil, maybe you will be a rebel in their eyes. But don’t be afraid. They cannot touch your soul. A sparrow has no market value. But none of them falls to the Earth if his father in heaven doesn’t want it. They will put you on trial: why such foolishness? But don’t worry what you should answer. The one who serves the truth also has the Word.

However, it might come to pass that as a called co-worker of God you might have long nights when nothing happens, when there seems to be no gain from all the work, and even the work you put into your own soul seems to be wasted.

Then you will say: I followed you, I obeyed your word but I struggle without success, just like before and I myself did not become a better man. A whole long night of hard work I put in but nothing remains in my hand.

Then it is still true that he went there and didn’t get tired, and that he encouraged those who lost courage, that he promised them what he had heard: go out, don’t ask for proof. You cannot do anything better than to bet your life on this Word.

And in the end you will see the harvest which is hidden from your eyes in this world. People did begin to listen because of you, who learnt to say “yes” to their fate through you, people who through you or by other ways recognised the man at the shore and who now learn the direction in which they shall walk.

So Peter pulled the net and was in shock. The problem was no longer: am I working in vain? But: am I worthy to be blessed by God this way, that he shows me the purpose of my existence in this way?

Vincent van Gogh, the painter, once wrote the following about this story of Peter’s fishing trip and with view on the again and again repeated effort of man to do something because of the word of Jesus:

It is right to stay with the belief that everything is wonderful, much more than we can grasp, because it is the truth, and it is good to be sensitive, humble and tender from the heard.

It is beautiful to be full of knowledge about the things hidden from the wise and smart ones of this world. Man is well advised when he is not satisfied with less and does not feel at home as long as he did not find it together with all those who searched more and worked more and loved more like all those who went to the high seas of life.

To go out to the high sea is what we have to do as well if we want to catch anything, even if it happens at times that we work through the whole night and gain nothing. Then it is good not to give up but to go again and again in the morning and to throw out the net again.

Leave all your worries and fears, will and plans with the one who calls you to be free. When you hear the call it will set you free.

• Karsten Decker was the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Bermuda from 2010 to 2017, and after returning from Germany is now the temporary pulpit supply at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smith’s