On a recent trip to the ocean, my husband and I discovered a huge, dark grey boulder at the edge of the beach. The tide had gone out, leaving the boulder exposed. The rock was teeming with all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colours of barnacles. One thing they all had in common was the ability to cling and attach themselves to that boulder. It felt like a child had deliberately placed and plastered superglue on the back of each and everyone placed there. No matter how hard we tried, they would not budge.
As I watched the tide come in and saw wave after wave strike that rock, I sat back in amazement as they did not move or appear to flinch. How was that possible? I decided to do a bit of research on how barnacles attach themselves and this is what I discovered:
“Barnacles secrete a glue-like substance that helps them attach to surfaces always headfirst”.
As I reflected on this, God began to speak to me in that still small voice that I have learned to recognize and delight in:
“I AM that Rock, firm, steady and secure. I do not change. I AM the same yesterday, today and forever”.
I then sensed Him saying that He wanted us to be like those barnacles, so rooted in Him like superglue. We too can imitate those crustaceans holding on to Him in such a way, that no storms, waves, challenges, trials, pandemics, or sickness could shake or remove us from our place of security, love, and protection in Him.
I found the fact that the barnacles secured themselves headfirst intriguing. I was reminded that our minds, our thoughts are located in our brains. How important it is for us to be aware daily of our thoughts? Do they line up with what God says or with what the world says?
I felt that the adhesive we needed in order to be like those creatures was the truth. We need to learn to take captive every thought “and make it obedient to Christ”.
God has given us Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth.
John 13:16
“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth”
Another two scriptures drifted into my mind:
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
John 8:32
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”
I had been walking along the beach earlier that morning, taking in the sounds, scents, and smell of the ocean. However, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts that flooded it.
“I can’t go through another year like the last two”.
“This is too hard!”
“How will we cope with all the challenges and changes that we are already facing at the start of a new year?”
I found myself having to practice what I teach my clients called the ABC theory. This theory states that it is not the activating event/ trigger that gives rise to emotions, but rather what we tell ourselves about that event.
A= activating event
B= beliefs
C= consequent emotion
I interrupted my thinking and began to work on disputing the misbeliefs and lies and aligning them with God’s truth.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Jesus was with me during the last two years. He will be with me this year too. He says he will never leave or forsake me”
“Our God is a God who cares. He says that in this world we will have trouble, but to fear not as He has overcome this world”.
I asked Holy Spirit to come and make this heart and not just head knowledge, and after a while, I felt His peace encompass me like a blanket. We so often look at our circumstances, at what we feel are unchangeable facts, and allow these to sway us from the truth and from fully trusting our God.
Won’t you make it a habit to recognize your misbeliefs and replace them with God’s truth, His word? Won’t you believe He is who He says He is and that we are who He says we are? He is faithful and loving and we are His beloved children. I don’t know about you, but I want to be just like those barnacles clinging to my Rock, steadfast and immovable in my faith and trust in Him.
