Barnacles

I was recently reading a book with a story about Charles Haddon Spurgeon and how he used to stay in a little fishing town in Devon for his holidays. He loved the harbour and all the fishing boats and other boats which were moored there, all looking serene and peaceful. Then one night there was a dramatic and powerful storm, and suddenly, the next day, about half the boats had disappeared. He asked one of the local fishermen “Why have so many boats sunk?” The fisherman replied, “The boats that sank had too many barnacles”.

Those barnacles were not apparent, because they were under the waterline, but, when the storm came, those boats sank. Barnacles are those little crusty-looking creatures that grow on the boat under the water and actually make it heavy, so that, when the storm comes, the boat sinks. What a warning for each one of us on our walk with the Lord. The barnacles could be likened to sin in our lives. It got me to thinking how many things there are in my life which aren’t apparent to others, but which are hidden under the waterline. When the storms of life hit us, suddenly the problem becomes apparent.

God wants to have every part of our lives, the bits above the waterline and visible to others, but also the hidden things, which are so often the very ones that trip us up. As the verse for today says ‘let us strip off every weight that slows us down especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us’.

We can only do this by daily coming to Him and allowing Him to remove any barnacles that may have become attached to us. We need to be open and honest with Jesus, keeping nothing hidden from Him, for in reality He sees everything.

He’s our Healer and Restorer, and He wants to set us free to serve Him. So, come to Him today, and allow Him to have His way in your life. Let Him reveal anything that’s out of order in your relationship with your heavenly Father, so you don’t get shipwrecked when the storms of life strike you.

Prayer: Father, help me to daily come to You, seeking Your forgiveness for any barnacles I’ve allowed to grow in my life. Help me to know Your cleansing power, and keep me humble and obedient to Your word, so that when the storms of life come I’ll be able to stay afloat, not in my own strength, but in Your power. Enable me to complete the race that You’ve ordained for my life, and let nothing hinder my walk with You. Amen.