A Hermit Crab!

A Hermit crab has a very hard life. As it crawls along the bottom of the ocean it’s tossed to and fro by the waves and currents. It’s scratched and cut by the moving sands and rocks. It’s hunted by predators who desire to eat it (humans included). Its life is filled with trials and hardships. But as the Hermit crab perseveres through the hardships it becomes stronger and stronger. The sands and rocks rubbing its skin cause it to toughen and become like a hard armour, protecting it from many situations, including getting eaten! As the crab crawls along the bottom of the sea, combatting the waves and currents, its legs become meaty and strong, enabling it to anchor itself deep in the sand, so it won’t be overwhelmed by the waves. It’s then able to move quickly along the bottom of the ocean, finding protection under rocks and plants.

God asks us in the Bible to stay steadfast, even when life is an angry ocean. Just as He created and designed the Hermit crab to learn, grow and survive, even flourish, in a difficult environment, God will teach us to do the same. Sometimes we come to a place in our lives where we’re overwhelmed. “How did I get to this place?” “How am I ever going to move forward?” But if we stop and realise we can’t do anything without Jesus, and bring Him back into the centre of our lives and situations He gives us the steadfastness to overcome anything. We have the potential through Him to be both steadfast and holy.

Scientists are not sure why but there’s a group of Hermit crabs that have given up on persevering through the hardships. They find an empty shell, or object of any kind, and settle in. They attach themselves by their backs and stick on the inside of the shell. They can hide inside that shell and it protects them from the environment of the ocean. However, their backs become as thin as paper and their legs remain thin and fragile. Eventually their legs actually fall off and they die within the shell they thought would protect them.

Are we hiding in our ‘shell’ instead of learning to be steadfast in Christ? Or are we strengthening our spiritual legs and putting on the full armour of God? Are we allowing the waves and currents of this world to push us so that God may be glorified through our reactions? Or are we instead only choosing to feel comfortable and safe?

Prayer:Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You will help me to stand steadfast in You. I submit again to Your Lordship in my life and establish You afresh in the Centre place of Honour in my life. Please help me to put you first, to seek after more of you so that I will grow to be strong in the Faith and will be honouring to you in the journey of my life. Thank you Lord for your Faithfulness to me! Amen.