From Darkness to God’s Light
By Fima Daniel
My name is Fima Daniel. I am from Iran. My father was Moslem. My mother Assyrian. We were raised as Christians. I was married to L. Daniel and have two children, Dino and Monique Daniel.
I was 12 years old when we moved from Iran o the United States. I was taken away from three important people in my life, my dad, grandma, aunty and also the country I loved. I was a very angry, bitter, unhappy person. My home life and stepfather made me want to run away. I didn’t like the U.S. and didn’t want to go to school. I didn’t make friends. I wanted to go back home – but no chance.
I met my first husband and thought I could escape my unhappiness by getting married. I was very young. I was a battered wife for 17 years. I was so unhappy I didn’t know what to do. I had so much fear from my husband. I traveled to Iran with my family six times because he didn’t know how to support his family. Finally, in 1974, I came back to the U.S. to stay. I divorced my husband and bought my first hair salon in 1976.
I was very successful. Now money was my power and my God. I did everything, and bought whatever I wanted. In 1976, I remarried my ex-husband. By now, I had money, husband, home, two beautiful children and success, but still greedy, ignorant and unhappy. So I went and divorced my husband in 1982.
Every four months I ended up in the hospital. Then in 1985, again I was hospitalized, but this time I was not telling everyone because I was going to commit suicide. My son called every hospital and finally found me. I didn’t want to see anyone because I was so scared. Well, all this happened in 1985 through 1987. I was living on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and driving a Mercedes. In one day, I bought $15,000 worth of furniture which I didn’t need. But again I was not satisfied, not happy. God has given me so much but I felt empty. I wanted more.
I sold my business which was a gold mine and sent my son to California so that I could move too. I left my sweet daughter with all my problems. At that time she was eighteen years old and she took care of the business that was under contract while still going to school and working. I was so messed up I didn’t know what I was going to do next. In all this time God was watching over me and my family. He loves us and is so patient with us.
In 1989 I got sick with a virus. The doctor said 95% of those with this illness don’t make it and expected me to be one of those who wouldn’t make it. Again, God was there trying to give me a message: “Fima, stop!” But no, I was still on my high horse. No one could tell me anything or stop me. I lost my business, my property, my savings. I was down to zero. I was still depressed, sick, miserable and lost.
In 1989, I decided to get married to the man I loved for eight years. Shortly after I was married, February 28th, 1990, I got sick again with the most horrible sinus infection that affected my glands. I was at work when I called the doctor. He asked me to go to his office. When I got there, he gave me a very strong medication and told me to go home to bed. I was told to call him on Monday.
By Monday, I felt worse. I called the doctor. My fever was very high. I was getting worse every hour. Medication was not helping. Doctor said to continue with medication, there was nothing else I could do. Well, by Tuesday, I was still the same, and almost ended up in the hospital. By 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, I decided to go to the kitchen. That’s when I started to pray and cry from pain and desperation. I asked God, “Please dear Lord, forgive my sins. I want you to take over my life. I am in your hands. If it is your will, take me. I am ready to come to you. If my time is not up, please have mercy on me. Heal me. I accept you as my Savior so that I can receive eternal life. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead after three days. From today, I surrender my life to you. Amen.”
Four hours passed after my prayer and commitment. It was 5.00 p.m. and I was getting worse. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t talk, walk, or eat. My eyes were blurry and my temperature was 103. I prayed again and asked Jesus to have mercy on me. I repented of my sins to our Lord. By 11.00 p.m. I decided to go to bed and try to sleep, but I couldn’t. By 12 a.m., I started coughing very hard non stop for ten minutes. Then I stopped. After 20 minutes, the same thing happened. This time it was worse. While I was coughing, the most horrible sounds, blood, and phlegm gushed out of my mouth. Well that was it. My prayer was answered. The Holy Spirit took over the evil spirit that has lived in me. From that moment, I slept like a baby.
I woke up in the morning like I was never sick, I could walk, talk, see, breathe, and believe it or not, I was hungry after three days. I was ALIVE! I gave praise to God that moment. I realized this was it. I had been saved by our Lord Jesus. He accepted me as a newborn baby into his family.
Now, I am a new person, and have to live my life according to his law and will. I am to witness the most beautiful, wonderful thing on this earth, because my name is on His list in His Kingdom. The Lord lives within me. I am His tool. He can use me in any way He chooses, and I will obey. Since I have lived my life with our Lord, I am free from my sins, judgment, loneliness, fear, sickness and miserable life which all come from evil. I was the kind of person who lived for material things. I was stubborn, greedy, ignorant, etc. I judged others. I lived my life my own way because I thought I could do everything. Nobody could tell me any different. I lived a very sinful life. I used to say “I am good Christian. I pray, I go to church. I am a good mother and wife. I’m good to the poor, forgive and forget, a good daughter, good friend, and good business woman, etc.” Well, I was wrong and ignorant. I was a loser; I had everything, but nothing. I was trying to find happiness and did everything to make it happen, but it was not there until I found my new life with our Lord Jesus. He is the way, He is the truth, He is the Life. In 43 years of my life, I can tell you, I feel the one year I have lived with Jesus is the only life I want to live forever.
Well, my friends, I am trying t tell you we are living in an evil world full of human desire, guilt, unhappiness, illness, killing, drugs, alcohol, etc. As an individual you know who you are, where you are, what kind of life you live. So now make the best decision you can make for your life. Right now, you can ask Jesus to take over your life and forgive your sins. You knock, the door will be opened. I am one example, and I wanted to share and witness our Lord Jesus Christ because He loves you and I love you. I pray and wish this gift of life for every one of you. Be ready for His Kingdom, for His Second Return.
I write this in His Precious Name. Amen