The overriding message of Soul Surfer is that faith in God is the key to overcoming any challenge in life. This theme is present in several ways throughout the book: in the account of Bethany Hamilton’s accident and its aftermath, in the reactions of her friends and family that have been chosen for inclusion in the book, in the description of various secondary characters who have been identified as sharing Hamilton’s faith, and in the inclusion of Scripture verses sprinkled throughout the text.

While the references to prayer, worship music, and Hamilton’s church community are sprinkled throughout the book, one Scripture verse encapsulates Hamilton’s core beliefs: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (87). This verse, from Jeremiah 29:11, comes to Hamilton’s friend Sarah immediately after she hears of the shark attack, and it reflects Hamilton’s belief that God does have plans for every individual, and that while those plans may present challenges to our lives, ultimately God wants us to succeed and do well. This is the primary belief that Hamilton returns to in the aftermath of the accident.