Soul Surfer: Seeing Trials Through God’s Bigger Picture

Hello everyone, and thank you for visiting my blog. Today, I am excited to begin my journey of exploring cinema through a Christian worldview.​

When thinking about which faith film to feature first, I wanted a story that is accessible, inspiring, and easy for anyone to connect with. That film is Soul Surfer. For those who haven’t seen it yet, I’ve kept spoilers to a minimum so you can enjoy the story yourself.

Real-Life Stories Have the Power to Make Us Reflect on Our Lives

​Soul Surfer continues to be widely watched and loved in churches and Christian communities today. It naturally reflects a Christian worldview, and because it is based on a true story, it delivers an even deeper sense of grace and emotional impact.

I personally first watched Soul Surfer in South Korea at the Seoul International Christian Film Festival. Even back then, I vividly remember how powerful and deeply moving its message was to me.

Step Back and Look from a Distance

In the movie, there is a memorable scene where youth leader Sarah Hill plays a game with the teenagers. She shows them extreme close-up photos and asks them to guess what the object is. Afterward, she shares this insight with them:

​”When we look at our problems or trials from too close, they feel overwhelming and seem like everything. But when we take a step back and look at the bigger picture—from God’s perspective—they take on an entirely different meaning.”

If you cover your eyes with your hands, you see nothing. But the moment you move your hands away, the bright light becomes clear. In the same way, do we sometimes close our own eyes to God who is right beside us? Or are we feeling blinded and overwhelmed because the immediate hardships right in front of us are blocking our view?

As the saying goes, “Time heals all wounds.” When time passes and we look back, we often realize that the problems that once felt impossibly huge were not as insurmountable as they seemed.

The Unsung Hero: Tom Hamilton

While Bethany Hamilton is naturally the main protagonist, there is another figure I want to highlight even more: her father, Tom Hamilton.

Even amidst the heartbreak, worry, and reality that Bethany had lost an arm and might never surf again, her father remained faithfully by her side. He quietly supported her, prayed for her, and even custom-crafted a special handle on her surfboard to fit her physical condition.

As a father, knowing how brutal and dangerous professional surfing would be for someone with one arm, telling her to quit might have seemed like the most protective and loving choice. Yet, he chose instead to stand by her dreams and quietly support her journey.

Rather than simply asking, “What would you do if you were Bethany or her father?”, I want to take the question a step deeper:

​”What was God’s plan for Bethany’s family?”

There is no simple human answer, because no one can fully grasp God’s mysterious plans and providence. However, even without a complete answer, I can say this with certainty: Love. God loved them deeply.

One conviction I hold firmly to is that God never gives us a trial that is beyond what we can bear. That is the essence of God’s love, and it is the exact love reflected through Tom and Cheri Hamilton to their daughter, Bethany.

Are we showing this kind of love to our families and neighbors today?

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11

​(This is the verse Bethany Hamilton consistently names in interviews as her favorite scripture and the greatest anchor that gave her strength throughout her recovery.)

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Explore More Screen Devotions:

• 🎨 Animation: Spiritual Insights in Animated Films
• 🌍 Documentaries: Biblical Perspectives on Real-World Issues

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.