Written By & Photo By: Emily Benedetto | Chief Communications Officer

As surfers, we have to make tons of choices. “Where is the swell hitting the best?” “What time will the tide and wind line up for ideal conditions?” “What board will we take out?” “After paddling out, where do I position myself?” “What wave will I ride?” You get the point.

In life, we also have many choices, some are smaller, like “What am I going to eat for breakfast?” Or, “What am I going to do this weekend?” But some of them are more difficult choices, like “Where will I go to college?” “Who am I going to marry?” “How should I raise my family?”

In Isaiah 30:21, it says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.” (NIV)

During those tough choices, how incredible is it that we have a God who cares for our needs and whispers into our hearts where He wants to guide us? When you first started surfing, you probably had a harder time answering the questions above, and it took longer for you to make those decisions on where to paddle out, what board to take with you, etc. As you become a more experienced surfer, those questions that you once spent hours pondering over become second nature to you, as you master the swell at your home break, dial in your gear, and accurately predict conditions.

As Christians, the more we deepen our relationship with God, the easier these choices get as well. Soon, the challenging and difficult choices we need to make become easier as we learn to lean on God, trust His will, and take those steps forward in faith. It is not an easy path, but one that leads to peace, freedom, and joy because we can know that no matter what choice we make, God will guide us and lead us into His perfect will. This doesn’t mean life will be perfect, but it does mean that God will always be with us, guiding us, and helping us make the next right choice.

Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (ESV)