As I was driving the boat for a group of young girls participating in our In His Wakes event, I was given clear instructions from one tube rider, "NO BUMPS, MISS KRISTI!"
I smiled at her and replied, "I can't promise you that, sweetie." As I looked around at the other boats on the water and the wind, I knew in my heart that bumps were inevitable.
As I thought about her command, I began to chuckle inside. Isn't this statement the desire of our hearts? Don't we often wake up and head out on the waters of life and say, "No Bumps, God." Our flesh wants smooth waters, no obstacles, and no challenges.
I think God's response to our command is similar to my response to the young girl on the tube. With a smile on His face and love in His heart, I believe God looks at us and says, "I can't promise you that, my child."
Just as bumps on the water are an inevitable part of the young tube rider's experience, bumps on the waters of life are an inevitable part of our life journey. Johns 16:33 guarantees "bumps" when it says, "In this world, there will be trials and tribulations."
Just as I can't promise our participants a bump-free journey on the lake, God doesn't promise us smooth waters in life. But don't let this discourage you! You don't need bump free waters to have an incredible journey. In fact, it is victory over the bumps that makes life worth living!
When I reflect back on my professional water ski career, never once did I go to the boat driver and ask him to remove the buoys so that I could just ski down the lake without a challenge. No, it was the buoys (the obstacles) that made slalom skiing worthwhile. Nor did I stay on the dock refusing to take to the water because of the conditions or the competition. It was the victory through the rough conditions, triumph over tough competitors, and rounding hard to reach buoys that made the journey on the water so awesome!
My most memorable victories were the ones with the greatest obstacles.
Yes, there will be bumps along your journey of life. There will often be HUGE obstacles that you must go through. Sometimes the bumps will be caused by other people, by the winds of life, or perhaps by your own choices. But no matter what the cause of the bumps, be encouraged that as you pass through the deep waters, God will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, they will not overtake you (Isaiah 43:2).
God, as your Power Source, will plow through the waves, creating a path of victory for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Just as I knew the path to take for this young girl to have a safe and victorious ride over the bumps, God knows the way for you too. He will uphold you and help you.
As long as you are in the safety of His wakes, focused on Him and standing on His promises, there are no waves of life that can knock you down (Matthew 7:24).
Don't let the bumps of life steal your joy and your peace. Your Power Source will never fail you. He will get you to the other side and one day soon you will be able to look back over those waters and say, "Oh, how sweet the victory!" -By Kristi Overton-Johnson/Washington Times/January 18, 2012
Foot Note: Kristi Overton Johnson is a wife, mother, and the world record holder in water-skiing from 1992-2010. Having retired from professional sports, Kristi now helps others fulfill their God-given destiny.
With a passion to share the life lessons she learned on the water and a desire to encourage the hearts of people through her faith, Kristi founded her non-profit ministry Champion’s Heart.
Champion’s Heart provides life resources, addiction recovery, quarterly magazine publications, leadership training, and sports outreaches. In His Wakes, the water-sports outreach of Champion’s Heart, has helped over 10,000 at-risk youth from across the nation and world have hope, experience victory and discover their purpose through the sport that brought Kristi fame!
Kristi currently resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.
To read more by Kristi go to http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/his-wakes
To learn about her mission and work visit Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries.
I smiled at her and replied, "I can't promise you that, sweetie." As I looked around at the other boats on the water and the wind, I knew in my heart that bumps were inevitable.
As I thought about her command, I began to chuckle inside. Isn't this statement the desire of our hearts? Don't we often wake up and head out on the waters of life and say, "No Bumps, God." Our flesh wants smooth waters, no obstacles, and no challenges.
I think God's response to our command is similar to my response to the young girl on the tube. With a smile on His face and love in His heart, I believe God looks at us and says, "I can't promise you that, my child."
Just as bumps on the water are an inevitable part of the young tube rider's experience, bumps on the waters of life are an inevitable part of our life journey. Johns 16:33 guarantees "bumps" when it says, "In this world, there will be trials and tribulations."
Just as I can't promise our participants a bump-free journey on the lake, God doesn't promise us smooth waters in life. But don't let this discourage you! You don't need bump free waters to have an incredible journey. In fact, it is victory over the bumps that makes life worth living!
When I reflect back on my professional water ski career, never once did I go to the boat driver and ask him to remove the buoys so that I could just ski down the lake without a challenge. No, it was the buoys (the obstacles) that made slalom skiing worthwhile. Nor did I stay on the dock refusing to take to the water because of the conditions or the competition. It was the victory through the rough conditions, triumph over tough competitors, and rounding hard to reach buoys that made the journey on the water so awesome!
My most memorable victories were the ones with the greatest obstacles.
Yes, there will be bumps along your journey of life. There will often be HUGE obstacles that you must go through. Sometimes the bumps will be caused by other people, by the winds of life, or perhaps by your own choices. But no matter what the cause of the bumps, be encouraged that as you pass through the deep waters, God will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, they will not overtake you (Isaiah 43:2).
God, as your Power Source, will plow through the waves, creating a path of victory for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Just as I knew the path to take for this young girl to have a safe and victorious ride over the bumps, God knows the way for you too. He will uphold you and help you.
As long as you are in the safety of His wakes, focused on Him and standing on His promises, there are no waves of life that can knock you down (Matthew 7:24).
Don't let the bumps of life steal your joy and your peace. Your Power Source will never fail you. He will get you to the other side and one day soon you will be able to look back over those waters and say, "Oh, how sweet the victory!" -By Kristi Overton-Johnson/Washington Times/January 18, 2012
Foot Note: Kristi Overton Johnson is a wife, mother, and the world record holder in water-skiing from 1992-2010. Having retired from professional sports, Kristi now helps others fulfill their God-given destiny.
With a passion to share the life lessons she learned on the water and a desire to encourage the hearts of people through her faith, Kristi founded her non-profit ministry Champion’s Heart.
Champion’s Heart provides life resources, addiction recovery, quarterly magazine publications, leadership training, and sports outreaches. In His Wakes, the water-sports outreach of Champion’s Heart, has helped over 10,000 at-risk youth from across the nation and world have hope, experience victory and discover their purpose through the sport that brought Kristi fame!
Kristi currently resides in Florida with her husband, Tim, and their three children.
To read more by Kristi go to http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/his-wakes
To learn about her mission and work visit Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries.
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