Take the Deep Dive: Are You A Surfer Or A Deep Diver?

Article by Steve Chiles

Greg’s article last week on living and leading from the center rather than the surface struck a chord with me. It’s a journey God has taken me on in my own walk with Him. I’m not really a person of the sea, but if I were, I’d say I’ve spent much of my time being a “surfer” rather than a “deep diver.” Let me explain.

Surfers spend most of their time skimming the surface. They love the thrill of the ride, the exhilaration of the challenge, and the cheers of the crowd. They move fast, dodge the waves, and chase the adrenaline rush. The problem? They never discover the treasures beneath the surface.

Deep divers aren’t flashy. They wear bulky suits. They move carefully, thoughtfully, and slowly. But they’re not in it for the crowds or the rush—they’re in it for the joy of discovering the secrets of the deep. They see what surfers never see. They uncover hidden gems others don’t even know exist. Their hearts awaken to a whole new world, a fresh perspective, and a deeper appreciation of the sea.

Ministry is an easy place to be a surfer. Most of what I’ve pursued in my own life and ministry has been surface-level rewards: draw crowds, wow people with exciting music, clever visuals, and captivating communication. Give them a show. Give them a rush. Get them excited and tack God’s name onto it. It’s easy to convince people that “God is at work” when attendance and giving are up. But we forget—monster truck rallies also draw crowds and bring in money. That doesn’t mean God is in it.

The real danger of ministering as a surfer is that you begin living as one. You start chasing “what works” rather than “what God wants.” You read Scripture looking for a way to impress people rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you. As a surfer, you pray less, reflect less, confess less, and repent less. Your time is spent waxing your board, not searching your soul.

I’d love to tell you that when God took me deep diving, I enjoyed it. But I’d be lying. It’s painful to look at yourself with rigorous honesty. God revealed parts of myself I didn’t want to see—my addiction to attention, applause, and adrenaline. He showed me how selfish I had been. He exposed that much of my ministry was about me—not about the churches I served, the people I led, or even the God I claimed to love.

I began to pray Psalm 139:23-24 with sincerity:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

And God answered. Deep diving was painful, but it was also freeing. He began scraping away the barnacles that had grown on my soul.

Yet, deep diving has also made my journey with God—and my ministry—more beautiful and fruitful than ever before. I truly seek God daily, not for what I want from Him, but for the joy and transformation of simply being with Him. I pray more passionately, more honestly, and more often. Because of that, I find myself not just writing and preaching out of my journey with God but living out of it. I am a better husband, pastor, and man than I’ve ever been—because I’ve learned the secret of “walking humbly with my God.”

Please hear my heart—I’m not claiming to have it all together. I don’t. But I now know where to go to get it together. It’s not in surfing. Transformation isn’t found on the surface. It’s found in the deep. It’s found when you confront the darkness in your own soul. It’s found when you go where you don’t want to go to see what you don’t want to see. It’s found when you slow down, take your time, and begin to discover the fullness of who God is and what He wants to do in your life.

Surfing is fun. But the real treasures? They’re on the ocean floor.

Take the deep dive. Want to go deeper in your leadership and faith?

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