Life often “kicks us in the face.” It presents us with challenges that we weren’t expecting. Crises comes when we least expect it, and often feel unprepared for it. During these times, we know that we should seek God’s guidance and trust that He will see us through, even when we don’t fully understand His plan. This trust and faith can be extremely difficult to practice, but (at least for me) reading examples from the past and seeing the stories of OTHER people can be
extremely helpful to give me context and keep me grounded.
Corrie ten Boom was born in the Netherlands in 1892 and grew up in a Christian family that
lived out their faith by caring for others. They often opened their home to orphans and the needy, guided by the belief that EVERY life has value in God’s eyes.
During World War II, the ten Boom family faced a difficult decision when the Nazis began
persecuting the Jewish people. Despite extreme danger, they chose to open their home to Jews
fleeing the Holocaust. Their house became a hiding place for many, and they became part of the Dutch underground resistance. For nearly two years, they saved COUNTLESS lives, driven by their conviction that God called them to love and protect others, even of a different faith!
In 1944, the ten Boom family was discovered and arrested by the Gestapo (secret police). Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. The conditions were horrific… crowded barracks, little food, and brutal treatment from the guards. Yet, even in such terrible circumstances, Corrie and Betsie held tightly to their faith, believing that God’s presence was with them even in the darkest moments. Somehow, Corrie and Betsie managed to smuggle a small Bible into the camp. Each night, they would gather the women in their barracks to read scripture and pray together. In the midst of unfathomable horrors, they found hope and strength in God’s Word. One verse that particularly sustained them was Romans 8:38-39:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This passage reminded them that nothing, not even the horrors of a concentration camp, could separate them from God’s love. Later in her life, Corrie often recounted her lack of energy to keep faithful and remain encouraging to those around her. But Betsie, though extremely ill at the time, continued to encourage Corrie, reminding her that even in the midst of suffering they were called to be lights for Christ.
Betsie passed away in the camp shortly before Corrie was released due to a clerical error. Though devastated, Corrie carried on her sister’s legacy of faith and forgiveness. After the war, she opened a rehabilitation center for Holocaust survivors and traveled the world sharing her story. One of the most amazing parts of Corrie’s story was her ability to forgive. In 1947, while speaking at a church in Germany, she met a former guard from Ravensbrück who asked for her forgiveness. Though enraged, Corrie prayed for God’s strength and extended forgiveness to the man, demonstrating the power of God’s grace in her life.
Corrie ten Boom’s life reminds us that, no matter how difficult our circumstances, God is with us. He does not abandon us in times of suffering but walks with us constantly. Her story is a powerful testimony of how faith in God can help us through the darkest times (and make us stronger on the other side).
We won’t ever face the same challenges that Corrie did, but we all experience times of uncertainty, pain, or fear. In those moments, we can look to her example and remember that God’s love is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble. As you ponder the story of Corrie’s life, keep in mind Romans 8:38-39: nothing can separate us from the love of God. Let us trust in His support, knowing that God will always be present to help carry us through.
-Tim Jordan
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