Christian Teen Girl Baptizes Boy at the Beach

Five friends—Hanaya, Yuri, Hiroto, Akio, and Noriko—spend an afternoon at Shichirigahama Beach (Kamakura, Japan) after school. They reflect on what it means to trust God and stay true to His plan, even when everything feels quiet and uncertain. Amid their conversation, Hiroto surprises Hanaya in a way she never expected. Could it be that God had this moment planned all along?

Hanaya Oki Series:  https://superdifferent.com/hanaya  

Transcript

Noriko (00:02):
Hanaya, I was listening to some of those clips you and Yuri put out. In one of them, you said, stick with God's script no matter what. But what happens when there's just silence? I mean, real silence. Like, God just hit the mute button. It's hard to keep going when we're not hearing anything. It feels like, I don't know, like hope just kind of fades out. We stop looking ahead because it feels safer not to. We're holding on for a breakthrough, but we're just so worn out. Sometimes we even try to force a quick fix. You know what I mean?

Hanaya (00:34):
Yeah, I get that. It's not an easy place to be. But you know, sometimes we think God's silence means He's forgotten us. But He hasn't. Remember when Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, He didn't rush to heal him. He waited long enough for Lazarus to die. It looked like neglect. But it was love. God was setting up something bigger than anyone expected. It's like His calendar is different from ours. He's not just dropping in with miracles when things get desperate. He's building hope into our everyday rhythms. We just have to catch it.

Yuri (01:06):
And quick fixes don't build lasting faith. They may even lead to unintended consequences. Waiting strips away everything but God Himself. It's like you're forced to lean on Him rather than answers or outcomes. And that's the point, right?

Hanaya (01:21):
Yeah, exactly. Our seasons aren't random. God's not just winging it. He's got breakthroughs, hope, and provision all scheduled out. It's like we're on His calendar. We just have to do the last thing He told us to do and wait for the next step. It's coming, but it's on His clock, not ours.

Akio (01:38):
Can't we just pray like, Lord, show us Your calendar. I kind of want to see what He's got planned.

Hanaya (01:44):
Hehe, we can definitely ask, but He'll probably only show us the big picture. Not every little detail. Think about it. If He handed you the full blueprint, it might overwhelm you. Plus, you might blab about it too early and invite all kinds of resistance and discouragement. God gives us the seed, not the whole tree.

Yuri (02:03):
Yeah, like when you feel called to something but you have no clue how it fits. You just get this little nudge, just enough to take the next step. It can feel risky, uncomfortable, but kind of exciting too.

Akio (02:16):
Huh, and when you try explaining it to others, you're met with blank stares and doubts. They just look at you like you're nuts.

Hanaya (02:21):
That's why sometimes you just got toshut the door. Guard your heart. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Be obedient. You're not crazy. You're just walking in something they haven't seen yet. And don't let the lack of results mess with your head. If you're still planting, don't expect a tree. Do not let go off your assignment to gain comfort or applause. Don't judge the season by the fruit. Judge it by the weight of the seed.

Yuri (02:47):
You know, I always wondered why God allowed Israel to send those spies into the promised land, knowing they would come back discouraged. I mean, He knew what was going to happen. He probably even rolled His eyes when they asked to scout the land. Hehe. They wanted to make a plan, take a vote, strategize, I get that. It feels safer, sometimes safer than just trusting. Uh, I think it's easier to work hard and strategize than it is to just wait with hope. It's easier to do something to take control than to sit in that silence and believe God's got it. Most of the time we don't really understand how things are going to play out, right? So we just try to take the wheel.

Hiroto (03:28):
Yeah, and those 10 spies, the way they reported back, it was like they broadcasted a full-on disaster movie. The land is filled with giants. We're like grasshoppers. It's impossible. The facts they gathered were real, but their perspective was off. Isn't that what the news is like today? It's always doom and gloom. Giants everywhere.

Hanaya (03:47):
That's the thing. We can't let the giants distract us. God fights our battles, but we've still got to show up. Those spies didn't just see giants. They saw their own defeat before the battle even began. But Caleb and Joshua, they saw the giants too. But they saw God first. Perspective changes everything. Their eyes were on God, not on the problem. They trusted that God would enable them to take the land.

Noriko (04:15):
Hmm, but that means it takes more than just believing. It takes stepping out even when it's scary.

Hanaya (04:20):
Yeah, we move forward anyway. See, God doesn't ask us to ignore the giants. He asks us to trust Him in spite of them. It's like we're called to step out maybe into something completely unfamiliar. Sometimes God has a whole new blueprint for us. It may not fit the old mold. It might not look like anything we've done before. Maybe it's a new path or a new vision. But the thing is, if we wait until there are no giants, we'll be waiting forever. But if we trust Him and step out, even when it's uncomfortable, then He does the rest. It's radical obedience. God's marked our days with purpose. Every single one of them. He's not winging it. He's intentional. And wherever we are on His calendar, we just have to be faithful. We keep sowing seeds even when it's quiet, even when it feels like nothing's happening. We keep showing up.

Yuri (05:15):
What if breakthrough is closer than we think?

Hanaya (05:18):
It probably is. We just can't let hope deferred steal our wonder. The giants aren't the problem. Our perspective is. We got to keep our eyes on God and move forward. Uh, guys, there's something I wanted to check with you all. You know, I'm so happy that you've all decided to follow Jesus. And you even had the courage to let your parents know. That's huge. And you probably know by now, some of your parents, well they made a complaint about me to Ms. Megumi, said I was brainwashing you. But hey, don't worry about it. I'm not angry. Actually, I'm not even surprised. My joy is seeing you all fall in love with Jesus and knowing Him more. That's worth any trouble. So I was just wondering if you guys are ready for the next step. The water baptism. I can talk to my church leaders and we can arrange a day for it.

Hiroto (06:12):
Oh, I'm ready. Let's do it right now.

Hanaya (06:14):
Wait, right now? You mean here, in the sea?

Hiroto (06:18):
Yeah, in the sea. You can baptize me.

Hanaya (06:20):
Uh, what's the hurry? I think it would be more appropriate if one of the elders at our church or pastor does it.

Hiroto (06:26):
Does the Bible say who has to baptize?

Hanaya (06:28):
Well, no, it doesn't. Any believer can do it.

Hiroto (06:31):
You shared Jesus with me. You helped me grow. I feel you should be the one to do it. This feels right.

Hanaya (06:35):
Hey, but uh, I think you're being impulsive. Also, I'm wearing a skirt. If I go deeper into the water, it's just gonna float up everywhere.

Hiroto (06:45):
Akio, if you don't mind, can I borrow your belt?

Akio (06:47):
My belt? What's the plan?

Hiroto (06:48):
Hanaya, if you fasten the belt tightly around your skirt, like a bit above your knees, it won't float up. You'll still be able to walk. We don't even have to go far. Just enough for the waves to cover me.

Hanaya (07:00):
Ah, Hiroto. You're crazy. We can schedule a day and do it at the church venue in a normal way?

Hiroto (07:06):
Didn't Philip, the evangelist, baptize the Ethiopian guy, right there, in some river, spontaneously? The Ethiopian guy was moved by what Philip shared and wanted to be baptized right then. They didn't wait. So I'm like him. I understand what I'm doing. I'm not being impulsive. My faith is genuine, Hanaya.

Noriko (07:25):
C'mon Hanaya. You can do it.

Yuri (07:26):
Yeah, the belt idea could work. Let's make it happen.

Akio (07:29):
Here. Take it. Now, you've got no excuse, Hanaya.

Hanaya (07:31):
You're really not gonna let this go, huh? Don't get me wrong. I'm so thrilled you want to get baptized now. I just didn't expect it like this. Not here and not so suddenly. I feel a bit unprepared. But yeah, let's do it. Okay, so before I do this, I want to explain what it means. Baptism is more than just getting wet. It's a sign of your union with Jesus by faith. A symbol of dying to the old life and stepping into the new. When I raise my hand over you and baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we're celebrating that God himself, Father, Son, and Spirit, has been part of your conversion. And when I put you under the water, it's like sharing in Jesus' death and burial for your sins, that you need not having identified with Jesus, ever die again spiritually. And when I pull you back up, as Jesus arose, you're going to participate in that resurrection, and you're stepping out of old life and following Jesus in a new way of life. So that's what we understand by baptism. And it's something to celebrate.

Speaker 4 (08:40):
Yes, I understand. I'm ready.

Hanaya (08:43):
Alright. Hiroto, do you confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Are you trusting Him for the forgiveness of your sins and for everything He's promised you?

Hiroto (08:52):
Yes, I am.

Hanaya (08:53):
Do you renounce Satan in all his works and ways?

Hiroto (08:56):
Yes, I do.

Hanaya (08:57):
And do you intend with God's help to follow Jesus as your Lord, Savior and Treasure?

Hiroto (09:02):
Yes, I do.

Hanaya (09:03):
Then based on your profession of faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.