Last week I opened up a can of worms by talking about nature. There are so many parallels between the animal kingdom and the Kingdom of God. So, I’ve decided to make a series out of it for the month of February. Please enjoy!

On an episode of Blue Planet II, a documentary that surveys bodies of water around the world, I was taken aback by the efforts that a small school of Saddleback Clownfish took to protect their eggs. Because of the location they live in, which is vast, shallow, and open, the clownfish live amongst a “water plant” known as a sea anemone for protection. When it’s time to lay eggs, the male clownfish must find a solid object on which the female can lay her eggs. In his first attempt, he finds a crab shell, but it’s too heavy to move. Plus, it turns out, there’s a crab living in it. Then, he finds a plastic bottle, but it’s too light and would float away with the eggs on it. Finally, he finds a coconut shell – the perfect weight and size! The problem is that it’s located a lengthy distance from the anemone. As he attempts to push the shell, he finds that it’s too difficult to move on his own due to its awkward shape. The school of fish (his family) comes over to assist him in moving the shell, and it’s placed under their anemone home for protection. They now have a perfect, safe nursery for their eggs.  

It sounds like Goldilocks finding the chair, porridge, or bed that was “just right.” But it can be applied to how we handle our illnesses as well. I’m talking about hope and faith. What we place our hope and faith in (or on, for the sake of this allegory) not only determines our peace and spiritual prosperity now, but also our eternal positioning later. It’s easy to put all of our trust in the most accessible or the least painful solutions. It seems we’re always looking for the path of least resistance. Medical advancements in treatments make God’s way seem unnecessary. False doctrines raise doubt about how we are to confront our illnesses. But that path so often leads us to destruction, frustration, or even in a circle back to where we started. If, however, we are willing and able to place our total confidence in God, He is sure to guide us on the path that is best for us. The downside is that God’s path isn’t easy - it often involves a painful uprooting of ourselves into humility and faith that seems nonsensical. God’s path means trusting Him through your suffering, and unfortunately, some are unwilling to traverse it. 

Today, I want to talk about the three items the fish tests as safe havens in terms of common places on which we find ourselves putting our faith and hope. 

The Crab Shell

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Psalm 139:1-3 ESV

First, the male fish tried to use a crab shell that was too heavy and was already occupied by someone. There are things - ways of acting, thinking, living out faith - that other people do that you simply cannot do. It doesn’t fit. It’s too heavy. It will crush you. That’s why it’s not meant for you. The way you approach reconciling your faith and illness will absolutely, positively not look exactly like someone else's.  And that's okay. The journey is meant to be between you and God first. Because God knows each of His children on an individual, detailed basis, His methods of interacting with us will look and even feel different, thus creating a unique shell for each of us.

Perhaps you find relief in a shell of being around others in a praise and worship environment. Although I may like your shell at times, it is not the shell I would need or want when I'm not feeling well. In fact, your shell will probably make me feel worse. But that's your shell - made specifically for you to provide you with what you need. Now, don't get me wrong, we may have to try a few shells to see if they work for us. But if it's too heavy or if there's something in there that could harm us, we need to use wisdom to let that shell go. 

Likewise, we need to use wisdom when we see shells that non-believers are using. There are just some shells, like using Buddhist healing techniques or even something as simple as not treating our bodies as temples, that are not for us. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived or bamboozled. A word of advice: if there’s a crab visibly sticking out of the shell, it’s a warning sign; you will get pinched - there’s no need to even try it.

The Plastic Bottle

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

Next, the clownfish tries to use a plastic bottle. Let’s call the plastic bottle what it really is - trash, garbage, litter. The fish knew this was not a good object to lay eggs on, because it would be swept away with the slightest current. Likewise, we should avoid placing our faith and hope in fleeting things. What types of things are fleeting? Medications, people, ritualistic "cure-alls," and even ourselves. 

I want to clarify that I'm not saying we shouldn't have some trust in the medical system or natural treatments or others. What I am saying is that the foundation of the totality of hope and faith should be placed in God and God alone. He should be consulted and sought before going to anything else. His Word should be trusted above all. He is, after all, the creator of and the only constant in the universe. All of the rest can and will ebb and flow, rendering themselves effective or ineffective depending on time or circumstance. 

The Coconut Shell

Finally, the fish finds a coconut shell – the perfect shape, weight, and size! The coconut shell is what we should want, as it is what God desires for us. This shell is God, the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, and His complete Word, and on it we are to place ALL of our faith and hope. I believe Paul explained the how and why of faith and hope  best, so I will use his words: 

Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God], in order that it may be given as an act of grace [His unmerited favor and mercy][...]18 In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised [by God]: “So [numberless] shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. 22 Therefore his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). 23 Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead— 25 who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God]. Romans 4:16a, 18-25 (AMP)

Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. 3 And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. 5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 (AMP)

So there you have it. An establishment of faith and hope built on God and His promises despite physical limitations and hardships, proven to be worthwhile and rewarding. 

One thing I want to point out is that the fish needed help getting the coconut shell to the right location. And we, too, need the help of others - pastors, leaders, fellow believers, and so on - that can help us understand God and the Gospel so that we can accurately and firmly place our hope and faith in it. 

It’s so important to scrutinize where, or in what, we place our confidence. It can mean the difference between limited and enduring peace, between passing or persistent joy. It is, in all seriousness, the difference between life and death, both spiritually and physically. Use what you have - your wisdom, your instinct (the Holy Spirit), and your support system to pursue and grab ahold onto God. 

Click here to watch a clip of the video used for this post!

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