What Surfing with Bethany Hamilton Taught Me about Faith

This past weekend, I flew out to LA for an event on July 25th, and it ended up being one of those trips I know I'll remember for a long time. I got to meet Bethany Hamilton, Lecrae, Chandler from MrBeast, and so many other creators who genuinely love the Lord. It was so fun connecting with them!

But one of my favorite parts had nothing to do with any of that. It was getting back in the water.

Back in 2020, I tried to surf in Malibu, and it was rough. Like, really rough. There were rocks at the bottom, and at one point, I almost hit my head on one. I remember not wanting to get back up. Not wanting to paddle back out. I just wanted to be done. So I got out of the water, and that was that.

This trip, I was back in Malibu — but not the same waves. Bethany actually told us the conditions that day were harder than normal for beginners, like an 8 out of 10. Her husband, Adam, was out there too, but it was mainly Bethany and Chase who were in the water with me, guiding me through it every step of the way.

Learning from the best of the best.

I got up three times. And that rush, actually catching the wave, moving with it, balancing, having someone who knows the water tell you exactly when to paddle and when to stand. It was completely different from what I remembered. Not because the ocean had gotten easier. Because I wasn't out there alone this time.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you." - Isaiah 43:2

I think a lot of us have a 2020-Malibu moment with God somewhere in our past. A season where we tried to do something hard, got knocked around, hit a few rocks, and just decided we were done. We got out of the water and didn't look back.

But the invitation is always to go back in. Not necessarily alone this time, but with someone who's been through the water before you. That's what Chase was for me out there. That's what Bethany was, in those few moments she helped me up. And that's exactly what God offers us, if we let Him, not a promise that the water gets easier, but Someone actually in it with us, telling us when to move.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses... let us run with endurance the race set before us." - Hebrews 12:1

The conditions were still an 8 out of 10. I just wasn't facing them by myself! 

A FEW QUESTIONS TO SIT WITH THIS WEEK:

• Is there a "2020 Malibu" moment in your life,  something you walked away from because it got hard and you felt alone in it?
• Who has God placed in your life who's already been through the water you're standing at the edge of?
• What would it look like to go back in, not because it got easier, but because you're not facing it alone?

Grateful for the trip, grateful for the people, and grateful to be reminded that the wave feels different when you're not out there by yourself.

Photo Credit: ©GodTube / JoeChristianGuy

Joe Navarro, known online as @joechristianguy, is a Christian content creator, entrepreneur, and cultural voice passionate about making faith approachable and impactful for the next generation. With over 4.5 million combined followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Joe delivers bold, Gospel-centered truth through a mix of daily encouragement, short-form teachings, comedic skits, and authentic life experiences. His unique blend of theology, humor, and clarity has created space for millions of young believers and skeptics alike to engage with Scripture and real conversations about following Jesus in a digital world. In 2023, he co-created the popular card game Discernment alongside Jacob and Julia Petersen, which is now available in major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Museum of the Bible, and Mardel. He also holds a degree in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Sales from Texas A&M.