It's easy to look at the things of this world to solve our

Hear, O children of faith and seekers of truth, the words of Bethany Hamilton, who bore her trials upon the waves of the sea and yet emerged with light in her spirit: “It's easy to look at the things of this world to solve our challenges and obstacles in life, but when we submit our lives to Christ, His grace, mercy, peace and love will bring true fulfillment to our lives.” These words are not the musings of one untouched by hardship, but the hard-won wisdom of a soul tested by loss and strengthened by faith. She speaks as one who has stood in the fire of adversity and found in Christ a peace that the world cannot give.

What is it to look at the things of this world? It is to seek comfort in wealth, answers in human power, healing in possessions, and worth in praise. These are fleeting shadows, like waves that crash and disappear. They soothe for a moment but do not satisfy the soul. Hamilton, whose own arm was taken by the jaws of a shark, knew that the world could not give her back what was lost. Yet in her surrender to Christ, she found something greater than what was taken—she found grace, mercy, peace, and love, treasures no ocean storm could sweep away.

Consider her story. As a young surfer with dreams bright upon the horizon, she was struck down in a single moment, her body wounded and her future clouded. Many would have drowned in despair, clinging to the world’s offerings for healing. But Hamilton lifted her eyes beyond the visible, anchoring her hope in Christ. Through Him she rose again upon her board, not with bitterness but with courage, not with emptiness but with fulfillment. Her testimony proclaims that worldly strength may fail, but divine strength endures forever.

History echoes with similar truths. Recall the story of St. Augustine, who as a young man chased pleasure, ambition, and philosophy, seeking answers in the world. Yet none of it stilled the restlessness of his heart. Only when he submitted his life to Christ did he find peace, crying out, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” His life, like Hamilton’s, bears witness to the same eternal law: that only the eternal satisfies the eternal soul.

O children of tomorrow, mark this teaching well: the world’s solutions are easy to grasp, but they are fragile. When storms rise, they crumble. But the strength of Christ is not fragile. It is an anchor that holds, a rock that stands unshaken amidst the flood. To submit your life to Him is not to lose, but to gain—to exchange temporary comfort for everlasting joy, fleeting applause for eternal worth. Fulfillment does not come from what you hold in your hand, but from the love that holds your soul.

The lesson is radiant: do not place your trust in the shifting sands of the world, but in the solid rock of Christ. For His grace covers your failures, His mercy heals your wounds, His peace stills your storms, and His love fills the emptiness within. In this, there is no fear, no lack, no despair—only the abundance of a life aligned with the eternal.

Practical action is this: each day, look first to Christ rather than the world for your strength. In trial, turn to prayer before panic. In loss, seek His presence before seeking possessions. In doubt, rest in His promises rather than the world’s praise. And in every moment, radiate His love outward, for the peace He gives to you is meant to shine through you to others.

So let the words of Bethany Hamilton resound: “When we submit our lives to Christ, His grace, mercy, peace and love will bring true fulfillment.” Carry this truth like a lamp upon your journey. For the world will tempt you with shallow waters, but Christ will lead you into the deep ocean of eternal joy. And there, your soul will find its harbor, safe, whole, and forever fulfilled.