Hope Daniels

Most people can easily remember a time that they were genuinely afraid. In November 2008, in a city called Netanya, on a boardwalk adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, I was paralyzed with fear in the grips of a stranger. Since then, every time a situation occurs, I feel my heart in my throat, my fingers tingling, and an aneurysm-like pounding in my head. My mind replays that particular memory and the physical experience of that encounter and views every fearful situation as if to the same degree. The first pl[...]

Fear and tribulation have awakened me from our nocturnal tryst. Another day has dawned. Sadness clangs its cymbals urging me to rise—it reverberates hopelessness throughout the day. My heart is ripped open, laid bare for what feels like a final viewing. The constant trickle of tears erodes my faith. Pain has seared me. I search for something unknown to me - a need that seems unfulfilled. I am deaf to all—except he who torments me. I feel alone in my thoughts, trapped by fear. Even my mind detests me. Lov[...]

I was going to call this post “Fourth Try” because, quite frankly, it is. This is probably the rawest I’ve ever been in sharing with anyone, let alone a group of people. I use the word “raw” because I think most of you can relate. But just in case you can’t, let me paint a picture for you … last week I was doing something I shouldn’t have been doing … cooking. I opened the oven door, and for what seemed like minutes (a brief second or two), I rested my forearm on the grill. My skin was raw.[...]

The question “who am I” in and of itself infers that I am always the same. It assumes that there is no growth in my life. The truth is that we are all different now than who we were when we were 12, 18, 30 … you catch my drift. In 5 minutes from now, you could have a revelation that can literally change your life. For most of my life, I kept on asking the question, “who am I?” I found myself trying to be all kinds of people and personalities just to overcome what felt like a lifetime of defeat. I n[...]

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV The waves surround me, thrashing about, waiting for me to drink.  Darkness closes in; I cannot see clearly; it lays in wait to blind me.  Heavy clouds descend upon me, anticipating my final breath.  Death bides its time; he is patient and relentless.  He nurses my surrender. The tide is rushing in.  Fear besieges me; I am drowning[...]