Pro-Athlete Gives Us a Godly Reality Check

Published: December 11, 2025

By India McCarty

Surfer Bethany Hamilton is giving her social media followers “a reality check” and reminding them to focus on their blessings.

“Everyone is struggling with something…. But you know what?! There are some people going through crazy, crazy hard stuff,” Hamilton posted on Instagram. “I think we all need a reality check at times that life is such a blessing and there’s so much to be thankful for… No matter how hard it may be.”

She continued, “Remember to be grateful cause life is a gift. Look around and find the sunshine. Thank God cause he provides.”

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Hamilton often speaks about the importance of concentrating on the good, rather than focusing on the bad. During a speaking engagement at Stanford University this spring, the surfer told the audience, “Every day is a blessing.”

She mentioned the shark attack that took her left arm when she was just 13 years old, saying, “I remember waking up at the hospital, and I was very grateful to be alive. I think that gratitude really helped project me towards thinking of what’s possible instead of focusing on my arm.”

“When I see the world, I see a lot of hurt and pain but also a lot of beauty and goodness,” Hamilton continued. “Try to take life with proactiveness and try to recognize the areas in your life that are not going well. We need to problem solve and not get stopped by those problems but adapt through them.”

She also spoke about her journey to adapt to different circumstances while speaking at Liberty University earlier this year.

“This was not the plan I had for my life,” Hamilton explained. “There’s likely going to be things in your life that aren’t a part of your plan. So how can we turn this chaos and overwhelm into peace? How can we face adversity with resilience? How can we adapt when life gets crazy and super hard?”

She continued, “One thing that can be bring peace amongst all the chaos is knowing God’s grace, His forgiveness, His peace, His love. That is what will change you to face the adversity with a whole new level of appreciation.”

“The cool thing is it’s not about me at the end of the day,” Hamilton concluded. “It’s not about my success but more about what the Lord is doing through my life, through my willingness to adapt, to make the most of what I’ve got, to work through that five-wave set that feels unbearable at times. I want to encourage you to know that you too can adapt, you too can have a ripple effect, you too can allow God to work through your life and to make it something so beautiful and celebrate-worthy.”

Hamilton’s story, and continued commitment to finding the good, is an inspiration to anyone who might be struggling with a difficult situation.

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