Damar Hamlin Back to Practice: ‘Faith is Stronger Than Any Fear’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin practiced in full pads for the first time since his traumatic health crisis last season.
“My strength is rooted in my faith, and my faith is stronger than any fear,” he said in a press conference after practice. “That’s what I want to preach up here, and that’s the message I want to spread on to the world, that as long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can get through anything. That’s what I’m living by right now.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Hamlin’s on-field health crisis:
“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment.”
Since then, Hamlin has used a daily devotional to help him process all he’s undergone. His faith continues to play a major role as he mentally and physically prepares for the upcoming NFL season.
“As much as the NFL is, you know, on schedule and camp starts this day, this is all God’s timing, you know what I mean? You’ll hear me say that a lot up here,” Hamlin said in a separate press conference. “I’m trusting in Him, and that’s my strength in all of this right now.”
In an Instagram post from Hamlin, he declared that his faith is stronger than any fear.
The NFL star wrote, “Faith Stronger Than My Fears.. I Got God Wit Me! Only Up From Here.”
In another post from July 26, Hamlin went a little deeper and prayed over himself as he entered training camp for the first time.
He wrote, “God you walked these steps before me, to meet me here & to tell me that everything will be just fine. My faith is stronger than any doubt, any panic or any fear. When I’m down & feel defeated give me the strength to stand tall & keep pushing to carry out your mission. Cover me in all these moments God. Every breath I take is filled with your strength and your guidance. It’s not easy, but I know it will all be worth it 1 day at a time. I know you got my back. This is a letter to you & you only.. thank you.”
Throughout the off-season, Hamlin began a CPR tour through his Chasing M’s Foundation, which provided CPR training in his hometown of Pittsburgh. He also donated AEDs (automated external defibrillators)—the device that helped save his life.
As the season starts, Hamlin plans to use his experience as an opportunity to overcome challenges and impact lives for God’s glory.
“When in life do we get to encounter challenges like this and overcome things like this, you know? Not too many people get this level of overcoming something and being able to stand for so many good things, so to be able to be a chosen one and to be able to be the one to overcome something so big, it’s a blessed space,” he said. “It’s a bunch of opportunity in there as well if you choose to look at it that way.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Hamlin:
“I just want to show people that fear is a choice, that you can keep going in something without having the answers and without knowing what’s at the end of the tunnel,” Hamlin said. “You might feel anxious. You might feel any type of way, but you just keep putting that right foot in front of the left one and you keep going. I want to stand for that.”
Hamlin spoke to FOX Sports’ Michael Strahan and expressed that Hamlin gave his future to God and that he just felt grateful to still be breathing.
“That’s always the goal, like I said, as a competitor, you know, I’m trying to do things to keep advancing my situation,” Hamlin stated. “But I’m allowing that to be in God’s hands. I’m just thankful He gave me a second chance.”
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