Many of you have wondered before how I’ve done it. I don’t talk about it much, but I’ve been through a lot. Those of you who really know me, or who have known me for a long time have an idea. For those of you that don’t know me as well or who may have met me recently – there’s a lot of mystery as to all I’ve been through.
Nonetheless, the aim for this post is not to make anyone feel sorry for me, not by any means. I am not the kind of person that feels sorry for myself. In times of hardship, I have learned to not only survive, but to thrive. I was pondering upon a good quote for this post tonight; I thought of the one above. “Faith is an everlasting relationship with never giving up.“
That’s how I’ve done it. Simply, Wonder no more. I simply have the will and stamina that God has given me to keep on going no matter what. Most of you know that my book series, Not Without God, is centered around a catastrophic accident I encountered when I was a teenager at sixteen years old. My books depict my faith, how I overcame, walked, and became a professional teacher. There’s a lot more to my books! If you are interested you can take a look: Not Without God books.
I’m a long-time educator. Despite my accomplishments, I have suffered a lot of hardship – but I am forever grateful to God who helps me win all my battles, To him be the glory!!!
About Zina
Zina Hermez has authored the books, Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Zina’s written several hundred articles and has appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places.
Zina writes on faith and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and science and loves to help others. Zina has created notwithoutgod.net as well as the Not Without God series/brand. She’s written articles for healthcare and she’s the creator/leader of the nonprofit organization, Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group – For aspiring and seasoned writers.
Each week she invites one author and hosts free masterminds for the public while showcasing bestsellers and award winners. She also teaches a free Zoom course each week to assist the public with improving their writing. Zina’s been an educator for nearly twenty years and has taught multiple subjects to thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and parts of the world.
She’s been invited to speak at the Harvard University Faculty Club’s Business Expert Forum and holds a B.A. in English with a minor in History from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Zina says the reason she majored in English was not primarily to teach; it was to write. When Zina is not writing or teaching, she enjoys cooking, listening to music, exercising, or socializing.
God is in your corner. Sometimes you’ve done all you can. There are no words left to be said. No actions have not been taken. God will fight your battles. You need only to trust. Keep asking for guidance. As a matter of fact, he’s been fighting for you all along. When you call out to God, when you reverence him and do your best to follow his path, he helps you. God will be with you assisting, leading, and guiding you, wherever you go!
What’s incredible to me is how the Lord preserves us and keeps watch over our lives. We may feel like the enemy has won, like there is no hope, as if life is worthless and there’s not much left to live for. But God will give us a sign. He will reach out. There will be a phone call, a friendly smile, and a kind gesture. Something will tell us to keep on going, keep believing, and do not give up. When you truly love the Lord, you keep going no matter what because you know about his massive love. You know that how things ‘appear’ to be are not how they really are. You know that there’s a love greater than you could even fathom and you’ve barely tasted it. You know there’s something beyond. Something more. Glorious is not a big enough word to describe it. It’s beyond what you imagine. Beyond space and time. It’s God. The Everlasting. The One and Only. The Maker of ALL things. It’s his Love.❤️
What we fail to understand is that everything we do we do unto the Lord. Sometimes we do wrong. Thank God we have an unconditionally loving father who forgives us.♥️ When we work we work for the Lord. When we wake up it’s for the Lord. When we sleep, when we love…it’s all for the Lord. Commit your plans…acknowledge the Lord. He will establish you and your plans. The greatest physicists in the world tell us we are under a ‘cosmic’ order. A divine plan. You are not your own. You may think you’re in control. But God is the captain of your ship. Trust in him. He is All loving. All kind. And provides life everlasting.
Have you ever felt this way before? Like you are on the edge? You can’t take anymore. Life’s getting worse, and what is the point of it all? When you have these days, remember that God is not one who ‘gives up.’ And he never meant for you to give up either. When all is coming against you, and you feel like life will never be ‘right.’ Remember, it’s an opportunity for you to depend on God. To call out to Him in prayer, in solitude, to turn to scripture and seek his presence more and more! It is in these moments you will rise above. You will make it. You will not be defeated, and God will let you know you can accomplish anything with him by your side. Never give up, and keep your eyes on Jesus.✝️⚛️💜
Today I’m grateful. Grateful for what I have and my abilities. I am even thankful for what I have learned through loss. Our inabilities teach us to be humble and patient. What we lack can give us an appreciation for what we don’t. I woke up this morning and thanked God for all that I have and can do. I’m grateful and will continue to carry my cross(es) willingly and surrender to the Lord. When I am weak; he is strong. When I am tired; he is awake. When I am hurt; I will remember he is good (all the days of my life). 🎂🎉💫
It’s important to talk to God. But sometimes I find myself talking to everyone else. My emotions get out of control. I fuss or get upset, and I don’t go to him. I may talk to a friend. But it makes no sense. You would think I would talk to the Lord about it before anyone else. I think I don’t because I know he would help me to look at it differently, and sometimes I just want to stay mad. I need to learn how to manage my emotions better. God knows I at times fall [incredibly] short. I’m not happy about it. I wouldn’t say I suffer from depression. I’m a cheery person, for the most part. I almost always feel blessed. But sometimes I get triggered. It’s a part I don’t like about myself. I need to practice having more self-control. It’s one of the fruits of the spirit. There is only one person who was perfect. We are getting ready to celebrate his birthday.🎂🎈 The Bible tells us: ‘He will SAVE HIS PEOPLE from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21).
One of my favorite pastors, Greg Boyd, had once said, ‘God lives in our imagination.’ Meaning, we can only see God through our imagination while we’re here. In this culture we’re taught not to use it. We’re taught it’s silly if we imagine things without seeing them and some may even mock you for believing in God. But this Bible verse explains it. He who has not ‘seen,’ yet believes is blessed. Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ Jesus at one point also says it is because his father has revealed it. Do you believe? Are you able to believe without directly seeing? Christianity is based on faith. Without faith it’s hard to accept. Imagine how Mary Magdalene felt when she saw the Lord, risen, standing outside of the tomb? Imagine how her faith and belief was not only verified, but how she at that moment knew she was worshipping the one and only Lord! How excited must she have been? The Bible also says: ‘Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy’ (John 16:20-22).🎄♥️🎁
God’s love will never fail. Friendships may fail and relationships may fade, but God will never leave you. Not only that; he will be your number one source.🔥 If you ask him to, he will lead and guide. But you have to ask. It’s not that he won’t take care of you if you don’t ask him to, but when you ask you maintain your connection and hear from him better. God’s love never fades. It never disappears or goes away. You may choose not to acknowledge him, but he will still be there with arms open wide—waiting with love for you. He can help you get through any tough situation.❤️✨🙏
This verse describes me perfectly. One thing I love about God is he will always be there. He is our stronghold. Friendships may fail and many others may disappoint, but God is the one being who will never leave or stop loving us no matter what. We can access God at any time by calling out his name. Jesus came to help us understand God’s unconditional love. It is cross like love. It is love greater than we can fathom, and it runs deeper than human love. He shed his blood; we know that there is no greater gift than to give one’s life. While we are still sinners he saved us. He came to redeem man. Yes. He is my rock. My refuge. My everlasting friend. The one I take comfort in and the one I run to when I’m in need. He leads me besides still waters. He blesses and consoles me all the days of my life.❤️🔥💟❤️🩹💞
Yes, he is. Sometimes life seems like too much to bear. Fear and anxiety at times surround us, but when you WALK by FAITH and ask the Lord to guide keep in mind he will lead you through the struggle. When my life seems difficult and things seem to be ‘dim’ I remember that everything happens for a reason. From dark comes light.✨ He enlightens us. We gain a new perspective. Find a new found hope. Make a few adjustments. We come out on the other side.
This is one of the best things we can do. However, people often take this quote to mean they should do nothing. Being still does not mean we are to do nothing. It means you have to listen to his voice, and actively seek after him along with his direction. How do you find God’s voice? It typically comes from your intuition. Something you feel strongly about may be prompted by him. Anything good, true, whole, pure, or right comes from the Father of Lights.✨ He wants what’s best. You can also hear him better in the silence, during meditation, at church, or when you’re surrounded by loved ones. God speaks to us through them too because his presence is in all of us. But you have to be able to discern. God will help you discern if you ask him to. Don’t just do what someone told you to do. Do what God would have you to do. There is a difference. Sometimes we make mistakes. We are not ‘still.’ We worry or fret. We don’t seek his wise counsel. God forgives us for those times too. He knows we’re human. We fall into error. Nonetheless, he doesn’t love us any less. Some people ‘start their day’ with God by saying prayers. Some like to talk with him at night when it’s quiet. Everyone has their way of reaching out. The beautiful thing is we have access to him twenty-four hours a day. He’s always there to pick us back up when we fall.
‘Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters.🌊 Wherever You would call me.’ If these lyrics sound familiar, then you’ve heard of the Hillsong UNITED ‘Oceans’ song! It’s a song I love.❤️ Here is the link to the article I wrote after I went to their concert! 
Life is not perfect; but God’s love is. It is made perfect in weakness; there is no fear in love. This is biblical. That is not to say life is perfect or that the world is perfect, though. ‘The universe doesn’t have to make sense to us’ is how one of my favorite physicists put it. 
Hello, friends, I’m writing you this note not because I have anything exquisite to say. Not too much here about my favorite subject, physics, or even about God in this one. All I want to say is that his love reaches ‘to the heavens,’ even when it seems like he is nowhere to be found. He is there. You see, in God there is always hope. There is always another chance. There is always another ‘day’ whether here or there, His love never ends. It is eternal, and we will spend eternity with him. Let’s set our minds on things above: service, tolerance, and patience. Sometimes I fail, but because I know that your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens and your faithfulness, to the skies. I am not worried. I will try to be better.🙏☀️⛅️
Teach me your ways Lord. Your ways are better than mine. Teach me your faithfulness. If my faith were more like yours, I would be perfect. Great is thy faithfulness, dear Lord. Teach me to never give up and to always have hope no matter what. Teach me to never allow struggles to determine my fate. Teach me to always reach for more, to reach for the stars. Teach me to use my time wisely, and to be wise when dealing with life. Teach me to be more like you, Lord, to unconditionally love, forgive, and always overcome!💕💕💕
He reigns. Glory in the highest! He reigns. I’m thinking of the song by Mercy Me. It’s beautiful. He’s the maker of all things. There are several hundred billion stars in one galaxy, and there are at least a hundred to two hundred billion galaxies that we know of so far! Your mind cannot imagine the magnitude of his existence. My brain cannot wrap around all he has made. He’s more than a king👑, although king is a fitting title. He’s a way maker. A miracle worker. A promise keeper♥️. Light in the darkness✨ (yes, that is another song too).🎵 He’s magnificent. He’s wonderful. I am struggling to find adjectives to describe him because he’s indescribable! He’s an amazing God!💫❤️🌟
God will get you through anything. Rest assured. You may not know where to turn or what steps you should even take, but he will lead you and guide you if you ask him to. Seek after his wise council. You do not need to worry, but only be still and ask him to help you. There have been times where I had no idea what my life was doing or how I would end up. God brought me through those times. He is a problem solver. A friend. Refuge. An ever-present help in our time of trouble. The beautiful thing is, he’s omnipresent. He can be everywhere at once. He is a God who does not sleep. You have access to him 24 hours a day. He is glad to help you. The world will tell you there is no way out. The world will tell you you’re doomed. The world will tell you there’s no hope. With God, there is always hope and more! There is restoration. The laws of physics prove to us that anything is possible. But nothing can be possible if you throw your hands up. With God, ALL things are possible. He can lead and guide you through the worst of times. He is for you.♥️
As we all know, and psychologists say it is those who give that ‘receive’ the most. The world has changed though. We may not be as apt to share with all the chaos going on around us. We’re trying to recover from a pandemic. Many are still unemployed. Some have been displaced from homes or lost loved ones. This can leave you feeling like life is tough and make you feel hopeless. But keep in mind, giving is not only through monetary resources. There is giving of your time, your ability to care, your effort to check in on others or to spend time. Make someone feel appreciated or loved. These are all ways we can give to one other during a difficult time.❤️💜💙
It’s easy to fall off our tracks. We lose sight of what’s essential and move away from our purpose. Whether you’re meant to have a career or be a full-time homemaker, you have a mission here. But it’s easy to feel hopeless. It’s easy to feel like, ‘What am I doing?’ I believe we are all called to do something. We don’t always adhere to it. What I mean is, we each have our unique heavenly purpose. There’s something we’ll do here that’ll make sense when we get to heaven. Some people are unsure of what their ‘purpose’ is, and this can cause feelings of sadness. Sometimes it is just existing and being a friend. Family member. Co-worker, or spouse. God doesn’t get upset with us when we fail, but he does want us to live to our full potential. Ask yourself, am I living out my true potential? Is there something more I could be doing to contribute or to help myself? Our intuition lets us know when something is wrong. When all is right, we may feel happy or peaceful. I feel the most peaceful when I write, so I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing! What makes you feel the happiest? Whatever it is, it could be part of your purpose. Anything good, anything pure and true, is a gift from above. When it is meant from the Father, there will be no doubt or shadow of turning. It doesn’t mean the path will be easy. But in the end it will be worth it. Either way, God doesn’t love you because of what you do. He loves you because you are you, his child, the one he longs to be with! One day you will realize the importance of his profound existence!
Zina Hermez authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. Her stories have been featured in Christianity Today, the Southern Writers Magazine, various guest blogs, medical journals, newsletters, and she’s written over 200 of her very own articles. She’s had the privilege of working with thousands of students from different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s taught at automotive corporations like General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Bosch, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and worked with students of all ages. She began her own teaching services incorporating math and other subjects. Her writing endeavors have earned her an invitation to speak at the Harvard Faculty Club’s “Business Expert Forum.” Zina’s goal is to help others overcome adversity. Socializing with friends, taking trips, listening to music, and networking are among her hobbies. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.
I’m able to maintain a sense
Zina Hermez 
