Marina Hofman
9 min read ⭑
“After surviving a car wreck, I faced many limitations and needed inspiration and encouragement to overcome them. When I turned to the stories of women in the Bible, I was moved. These women courageously responded to God’s call.”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
My favorite restaurant is a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant in Jupiter, Florida. We’ve been eating there once a week for several years. We know all of the owners and servers, and enjoy connecting with them. During the COVID lockdowns, they really suffered. It was beautiful how the Lord brought us together and allowed my husband and me to pray for them and with them during their darkest days. To see the restaurant bustling and busy now is always a delight to us. The owner often comes by and reflects in a whispering tone, “I am always glad to see you guys...” and his voice drifts off as his eyes get teary. We all know he is referring to the days when he was on the verge of a heart attack.
We may never know why God draws us to certain people or places, but if we listen and follow God’s lead, the door opens for blessing and human connection. It always warms my heart when I remember that the servers knew me before I was pregnant, they watched my belly grow during pregnancy, and now they have to beware of my near-4-year-old as she runs across the restaurant to greet them.
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called "nonspiritual" activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
Truly, in our home, there is not much of a divide between the spiritual and the secular. My daughter is homeschooled, so it’s easy for us to control the outside influences. At this point, we enjoy crafts, puzzles, music, singing, dancing and sports.
My favorite activity with my daughter, though, is a nature walk. We always get into deep discussions. Plus, walking teaches us to be observant of the world around us. My daughter wants to stop every few steps it seems — she’ll see a rabbit or a bird or a flower, and she loves it all. Seeing the world through my Willow’s eyes draws me into fellowship with God through nature. It reminds me to slow down. It awakens my senses of observation. And of course, the physical rejuvenation after a long walk affects our spiritual lives. When I feel fit and healthy, then I feel a bit more able to say yes to the opportunities to serve that come our way.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
For me, the biggest challenge of parenting is patience. I’ve been working on this fruit of the Spirit since my little girl was born because although I looked patient on the outside, I would be so frustrated and impatient on the inside.
As my daughter, Willow, grew older, I became concerned that she would start to discern my impatience and somehow think it was a lack of care for her. So I took my efforts to the next level. I turned off my phone entirely and put all my electronics completely out of the room for a set length of time every day. Then, while we did little toddler activities, I would focus hard on being present. When we did a puzzle together, I would look deeply into her eyes when she spoke and concentrate entirely on the moment.
It took weeks to discipline my mind not to wander to my unanswered emails and long to-do list, but the practice was like building a muscle. Slowly, over time, my ability to be present grew stronger. My goal was simply to be a better mom, but I discovered a sweet sense of the Holy Spirit in those moments. It was like God opened my eyes to the beautiful person that he created Willow to be, and I found greater delight in her unique little personality because I noticed so much more.
The Lord has been present in these moments, and I’ve grown to realize new ways God speaks to me through my daughter. I’ve also noticed that I’ve developed a greater ability to sense God speaking to me and sense his direction during other times in the day. My prayer life is much richer. I can focus better on God’s Word. So I’ve learned that as I become a better mom, I grow closer to God.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
In 2014, my husband and I were in a head-on vehicle collision north of Toronto, Ontario, on Highway 69. The impact was equal to a total speed of about 125 miles per hour. It was a fatal crash for the driver who hit us, and at that moment, we did not know if we would survive.
I incurred four lacerations to my bowels and was nearly dead by the time I reached the hospital. But God preserved my life. At the crash site, within seconds, I was surrounded by emergency workers who prevented me from moving, thus saving my life. A top surgeon was waiting for me at the hospital when I arrived and realized that there was no time for tests to determine my injuries. She immediately administered life-saving surgery by examining all of my organs by hand, and then another top surgeon repaired the damaged areas. Again, my life was saved.
The next urgent need was to make sure I did not lose hope and give up on life as the horror of what had happened gradually dawned on me. When I woke up after surgery, my husband’s fate was still unsure, and I felt completely disoriented — hardly able to communicate as I suffered chronic memory loss. Again, God was present. For the whole first week of my recovery, a team of truly tender-hearted ICU nurses did not leave my side — not even for a moment.
Eventually, I was told I had experienced significant physical injuries and suffered a minor brain injury. In the days that followed, after being diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, among other emotional and mental incapacities, I needed inspiration and encouragement to overcome these many limitations. When I turned to the stories of women in the Bible, I was moved. These women demonstrated strength and character as they overcame incredible odds to do something great for God. They courageously responded to God’s call and — often by doing ordinary acts — accomplished something extraordinary for God and his people.
The example of these women impacted me greatly and gave me the courage to move forward in faith despite my own fears and anxiety. After I recovered from many of my injuries, I created a platform to give a voice to these stories and encourage women of faith today with the models we have from women in the Bible. The call to courage is especially relevant today, when mental illness soars, the future remains uncertain and the need to stand up for our values rises.
To empower women of faith with the knowledge that God has done extraordinary feats through the lives of ordinary women in the Bible who were willing to say yes to God, I wrote a Bible study titled “Women in the Bible Small Group Bible Study,” created a video series that relates the ancient stories to today and frequently speak on the truths of God’s Word and the incredible value of the stories of women in the Bible. Talking about these stories every day pushes me to keep moving past my fears and take a stand for truth.
The impact of this Bible study is expanding rapidly. In Florida, Moms For America is raising funds to place this book in the hands of women in centers — whether detentions or pregnancy or crisis centers — across the state to bring a message of hope and life.
QUESTION #5: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin' best for you right now?
I am trying to grow and encounter God more fully through the practice of patience. Whenever I feel frustrated as a homeschool mom with a busy and demanding work schedule, I stop, take two deep breaths, say a quick prayer and then make sure that my tone, words and actions demonstrate the love of Christ to my daughter.
Every time I stop myself before saying a harsh or impatient word, I feel victorious in Christ. I feel a flood of the Holy Spirit’s presence. I feel renewed and refreshed. It reminds me that God is with me every step of the way and will empower me to be filled with the Holy Spirit. My prayer is to always reflect who Christ is to my daughter, so this is very important to me.
QUESTION #6: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What’s a resource that has impacted you?
My road to recovery has been long. I’ve had to learn how to overcome depression, anxiety and hyper-attentiveness. Regaining my cognitive functions has been a slow process and required me to completely reorder my life. One thing I’ve had to face is pre-crash amnesia. I’ve had to accept that the memories of my past might never return. Therefore, it is difficult for me to answer this question, because I don’t know what resources impacted my life before our crash eight years ago.
I can, however, tell you about a book I encountered more recently. Preston Manning, a former leader of the Opposition in Canadian Parliament, wrote a book called “Faith, Leadership and Public Life: Leadership Lessons from Moses to Jesus.” This book revolutionized my perspective of reconciliation. Manning writes that Jesus Christ provided reconciliation through self-sacrificial mediation.
In part, he wrote:
“This reconciliation effort is initiated by the party sinned against and is motivated by love ... Jesus came not as a judicial mediator, aloof and impersonal, distancing himself from the parties to be reconciled so as to avoid a conflict of interest ... the mediation effort was consummated through self-sacrifice ... the mediator (Jesus) paying the price of reconciliation rather than requiring the estranged party to do so.”
This perspective of reconciliation radically impacted my view of personal suffering. Where I was injured, I sought reconciliation. I learned to stop waiting for the guilty party to apologize and instead initiate reconciliation myself. Gradually, I became a person who was far less offended and hurt by others and much more inclined to seek reconciliation and healing for others, regardless of their actions toward me.
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it's done for you.
C.S. Lewis’ sermon, “Learning in War-Time,” has so much to offer — and it seems more relevant now than ever. Lewis wrote:
“The war creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice. Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun. We are mistaken when we compare war with ‘normal life.’ Life has never been normal. Even those periods which we think most tranquil, like the nineteenth century, turn out, on closer inspection, to be full of cries, alarms, difficulties, emergencies. Plausible reasons have never been lacking for putting off all merely cultural activities until some imminent danger has been averted or some crying injustice put right. But humanity long ago chose to neglect those plausible reasons. They wanted knowledge and beauty now, and would not wait for the suitable moment that never comes.”
The challenges I’ve faced over the last two years and the issues that made me very frustrated, I was reminded, have always been a part of society. Nothing is new, but the last two years have exaggerated the issues to the point of pushing me to take a stand for truth and freedom.
Lewis argues that we will always be at war because we will always have an enemy of our soul. This is a great reminder for all of us who can become complacent. We must stay on our guard and keep close to the Lord so we can discern what is right.
The idea that there will never be a suitable moment to pursue learning and beauty impacts me as an educator. The thought of being at war can be destabilizing and cause us to feel unable to move forward. Lewis’ sermon challenges me to accept that we are at war and to seize this moment, now, to act in whatever way God calls me to. If I’m seeking a peaceful time to take a stand for truth, it will never come. Instead, I need to fix my eyes on Christ and have an eternal perspective. This pushes me every day to keep sharing my faith and shining light into the darkness.
QUESTION #7: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
My verse to live by right now is that God is able to do more than I can ask or imagine. I feel like I’m only beginning to realize what that means, but I’m trying to dream really big!
My current project is a new book. I want to encourage parents to raise godly children who shine the light of Christ — and that this is possible as they navigate the challenges of cultural influences, social media and electronic addictions. It’s difficult, but we can turn off all the electronics and move toward spending quality time building meaningful relationships with our children. It’s never too late to move toward fewer electronics and more real-life experiences that reflect our values every day.
I also started a Moms For America group in Palm Beach County. It’s a like-minded gathering of women who care about faith and freedom. We encourage one another to stand for truth. If we stay humble and willing to say yes to God, then I believe God will do incredible things for our county through our group. Every time we meet, I am deeply inspired by the testimonies of these gals and amazed at how God is transforming our lives as we submit to Jesus.
If you read the Bible cover to cover, you’ll find story after story of people who have faced hard times or impossible circumstances — only to see God turn their situation around for his glory.
Sarah’s barrenness gave way to a promised son, Isaac. Rahab’s shameful past was erased by righteousness through an act of faith. The threat of death hanging over Esther and her people turned into an empire-wide victory.
What about you? What’s your impossible situation? Your shameful regret? And how is God using it to reveal his power and love to this broken generation?
Marina Hofman, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of Women in the Bible Small Group Bible Study and its accompanying free video series, a professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University and a media expert. She is also president of Moms For America Palm Beach County. An advocate for freedom, Marina inspires audiences to be courageous by highlighting examples of women in the Bible. As a survivor of a life-threatening trauma and one who has overcome debilitating limitations, Marina is passionate about sharing her incredible testimony of God’s redemption and the healing and the hope she has in Christ.
