If you have social media, you may remember seeing a video and photos of a Black Sea “devil anglerfish” that swam to the ocean surface off the coast of the Canary Islands in January 2025. This rare sighting became a viral phenomenon.
Anglerfish—you know, the black, scary looking fish with a light bulb coming out of their head—are not supposed to be near the surface. They dwell in the deepest parts of the ocean.
This particular anglerfish was very small—and she just happened to swim up into an area of open water where a group of marine researchers, and their cameras, were conducting research. They documented the unbelievable encounter, unsure how and why she made it to the surface. The little anglerfish died shortly after being sighted.
For reasons I still cannot explain, this little fish has had a profound impact on me. After seeing the videos of her, I am not exaggerating when I say that my heart hurt for her.
It occurred to me, and many others, that on this last day of her life, she swam to the surface and finally got to see a light that she did not have to make herself. What a life she must have lived, constantly enveloped by complete and total darkness. I shed many tears thinking about this little fish, and the darkness that surrounded her.
I was chatting about this with a beloved friend, and she said something that has stuck with me. She said, “Yes, living in total darkness would be hard. But isn’t it awesome that when God created her, He knew she’d be living in the dark depths of the ocean. And what did He do? He gave her what she needed, He gave her light. Literally!”
My whole perspective on the situation changed in an instant. This little anglerfish is a perfect picture of what God—“Jehovah Jireh”—does for us. The Lord gives each of us exactly what we need, in all circumstances, and at every moment.
When Moses felt inadequate to help God deliver the Israelites because of his fear of public speaking, God gave him Aaron.
When Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus and couldn’t see, God called Annanias to help him.
When Esther had a scary task in front of her to approach the King, God gave her courage.
I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-26, and 28-30:
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
“See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”
Our God is loving and He cares deeply for us. He gives even the smallest deep-sea anglerfish what she needs. He gave her light! How much more does He provide for us?
