Bethany Meilani Hamilton was only 13 years old when she lost her left arm in a traumatic shark attack while surfing. At the time, she didn’t just grieve the loss of her arm, but she mourned the loss of the life she dreamed of – to compete as a professional surfer. She struggled to see how her tragedy could possibly be part of God’s plan for her life; and as hard as she tried to compete again after the attack, she lacked the strength to continue. Her frustration caused her to want to quit surfing forever.
Maybe an event or a circumstance has significantly changed the trajectory of your life, and you find yourself grieving the loss of the life you imagined for yourself or for a loved one. Like Bethany, you’re frustrated and want to give up.
We can find hope in Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength.”
Life Application~
Bethany had a strong faith prior to the attack and still does. Her mission trip in 2004, to help the tsunami victims in Thailand, renewed her passion for life and helped her realize God was using her to give hope to others who had suffered loss. Relying on her love for Jesus and her trust in Him, Bethany found the strength to return to surfing and went on to win numerous competitions and championships.
This strength found in Christ is what the apostle Paul wrote about in his letter to the people in Philippi. Paul’s reliance on Christ sustained him when he was under house arrest awaiting his trial for spreading the message of Jesus. Familiar with Paul’s words in Philippians 4:13, Bethany chose to rely on Christ’s strength when she herself felt weak. We can do the same in our moments of weakness. We can chose to work through the tough stuff, not on our own, but through Christ who gives us strength.
Prayer~
Heavenly Father, I find myself in circumstances beyond my control which is frustrating and sometimes overwhelming. Be my source of strength when I feel like giving up, so I can accomplish your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By: Angel Slawinski
