Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid. When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Bethany Hamilton, better known as the “one arm surfer” is a young woman who took this Scripture and made it her very own. A huge mako shark took her arm off at the shoulder as she lay on her surf board waiting for a wave. Today, she inspires millions and me! Would you dare to go back in the water? Surfing is difficult with two arms. Arms act as balancers. Bethany has ONE! She is off balance as soon as she stands up on her board and there are still sharks in the water.
Do you have some “sharks” in your life? People who make you want to stay out of the water God has called you to enter? People who make you feel “less than?” People who “eat you up and spit you out?” ME, MYSELF, and I am going to get my way or else people. Ughhhhh! They make me not able to breathe and my tender heart shrivel. I would rather face Deep Blue the shark! I am NOT joking!
Not so very long ago, I faced a “shark.” This great white shark attacked from my blind side. I knew the shark was in the water, had seen it many times. But attack it did! This shark attacked with precision and my balance was momentarily lost. The goal of the shark: render me useless. God’s plan: give me a challenge so big I would have to come to a decision: Get up on the board and surf no matter what or forever get out of the water. I chose to get up on the board. I was NOT going to live in fear any more. I. WAS. DONE WITH. THIS. SHARK!!!
I trusted God for balance, strength, peace, and favor. I gave Him control.
I rode the wave He had prepared for me and I surfed the pipeline with focus and determination to give Him my all. I did not see the shark again until just recently. Ohhhh yes, the shark is still in the water, but this shark is no match for my God! This shark is becoming toothless. (I will let you imagine which emoji I would choose!)
Bethany Hamilton, thank you for showing the world how to handle a shark! Let your Daddy go after it! Let you Dad build you a new board! Let your Dad train you. And then, go catch the Wave that is yours alone!
What will you do with your “sharks?” Can I suggest, regardless of what these sharks have devoured, let’s follow Bethany’s lead and let God be amazing through us.….
Let’s do some Soul Surfing!
Hanging ten,
Yvonne
Bethany conquers “big Jaws” in January 2016
