Riding the Swell; Right Where You Are

Ever had that moment in the lineup?

You see a wave and think, “Yeah, let’s go, this looks like a fun one…”

And then it turns out to be one of the BEST waves of your life?

God’s mysterious plans can feel like that, right? You kind of see it coming and start paddling in, and suddenly you’re up, riding it, going for it. You expected one thing, but it turns out to be so much BETTER.

And while riding that wave, you still have to adjust your positioning to make each section. In the same way, it’s about staying aligned with the Lord. Continually adjusting so you can ride it the way He intends.

Hi! My name is Sylven, and this is what my journey has felt like since joining the Christian Surfers team in 2019 to manage ‘Groundswell Aid’ a ministry of Christian Surfers International.

We support projects around the globe in communities where surfing and poverty intersect, bringing hope to both young and old.

It has been a journey: an honor, a challenge, and a joy over these past seven years. I’ve seen growth in the ministry, but also experienced the difficult seasons too. Through it all, the most important thing has been staying aligned with Christ, allowing Him to teach His ways, seeking His wisdom, and walking according to His will and purpose.

To come back to the wave analogy: sometimes our positioning isn’t right. We get caught behind the section, or we drift too far from the power source, the pocket.

With Groundswell Aid, we’ve been able to support our projects in many ways over the years through fundraisers, emergency relief campaigns, visits, or simply a call, a message, and prayer. At its core, Groundswell Aid is about caring, coming alongside others, and highlighting the incredible work these projects are doing. And truly, the leaders we partner with are some of the most loving and genuine people you could meet.

At the same time, it can be challenging to remain in a supporting role without taking on burdens that aren’t ours to carry.

Galatians 6:2 says:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

This means we are called to support, help, and care, but not to take over responsibility that belongs to someone else.

As a ministry of Christian Surfers, we haven’t seen massive growth in subscribers, donors, or followers over the years, but we have seen faithfulness within our network and a deepening of trust, and that has been a real blessing.

Still, I’ll be honest: there are moments of frustration.
Why aren’t we growing? Why am I still here? Why does it sometimes feel like no one cares?

I’m not blaming anyone, I’m just being real.

More and more, I’m realizing that it comes down to positioning. I need to stay connected to the power source. Sometimes that means doing a big roundhouse cutback and coming back into the pocket, back to where the energy is.

I hope this encourages you to reflect on where you are.

Are you caught behind the section and need a few pumps to get back into the flow?
Or do you need a cutback to realign yourself with the source?

For me, those “pumps” often look like intentionally investing effort into aligning with God’s will and purpose, something I know I can neglect at times. And the cutback? That’s when I realize I’ve been trying to move ahead of God instead of with Him.

Blessings to you!

Sylven