Crawfish season in Louisiana brings joy, celebration, and community. But did you know that crawfish also offer us a powerful picture of spiritual life? In the Bible, crawfish (and other shellfish) were forbidden for the people of Israel under ceremonial law (Leviticus 11:12; Deuteronomy 14:9-10). While strange to modern ears, these dietary rules served as symbolic boundaries that set God’s people apart.

But thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.

From Forbidden to Free

Hebrews 10:1 explains that ceremonial laws were “a shadow of the good things to come.” In Acts 10:15, Peter receives a vision in which God declares, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are no longer bound to food laws and regulations. We are invited into a new kind of holiness, not based on what we eat but on our relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

So yes—praise God—you can enjoy that crawfish boil with gratitude and freedom! But here’s where it gets personal…

Crawfishing as a Metaphor

Crawfish don’t just taste great—they walk backward when threatened. Sadly, many people do the same thing spiritually. When confronted with hardship, responsibility, or change, we tend to crawfish—retreating, avoiding, and disengaging.

Here are a few ways this shows up in life:

• Avoiding spiritual conversations out of fear or comfort.
• Withdrawing from community when accountability challenges your choices.
• Returning to old habits rather than walking in newness of life.
• Living a roller-coaster faith, based on emotions or circumstances.

This is the story of Peter after Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. He denied even knowing Jesus (Luke 22:54-62). Then, disoriented and ashamed, he told the others, “I’m going fishing” (John 21:3)—essentially saying, “I’m done.”

A God Who Restores

But the story doesn’t end with Peter’s failure. In Mark 16:7, the angel at the tomb gives this powerful instruction: “Go tell the disciples—and Peter…” Even in his shame, Peter was not forgotten.

In John 21, Jesus finds Peter and gently restores him:

“Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”
Peter isn’t sent back to the fishing boat—he’s called forward into leadership, purpose, and grace.

Jesus doesn’t shame backsliders—He restores them. If you’ve crawfished spiritually, God is not finished with you. There is mercy, forgiveness, and a new mission waiting.

When Do We Backslide?

We tend to crawfish when:

• Our faith is tested (Mark 14:27)
• Life’s worries cloud our priorities
• Fear of people outweighs fear of God
• Sin overtakes us and we stop fighting (Galatians 6:1)

But God’s invitation is clear:

“The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 24:13
“We are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.” – Hebrews 10:39

Moving Forward

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If you’ve crawfished—He’s calling you back.

You’re not alone. You’re not too far gone.

There’s a seat at the table—and maybe even a sack of crawfish waiting—as a symbol of the joy and freedom we’ve been given in Christ.