Suffering 4

When the Nazi regime began its oppressive hold in Holland there was a resistance movement among the Dutch that was strong and valiant. Among the members of the resistance was a family of watchmakers named ten Boom. The two daughters, Betsie and Corrie, lived above the shop with their father, and were devout Christians.

The ten Booms created a safe space inside their living quarters to hide Dutch Jews from the Nazi’s. The space had a false wall and held 6 adults. In 1944 their home was raided by the S.S. and they were arrested and sent away. The people hiding in their home remained several days and were eventually rescued by other members of the Dutch resistance. The ten Booms were sent to concentration camps. The women were separated from their father who was sent to a different prison. Corrie and Betsie’s 84-year-old father was informed he could be put to death for rescuing Jews, he responded, “It would be an honor to give my life for God’s chosen people.” He died in Scheveningen prison.

Corrie and her sister were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, a notoriously harsh camp. The women were able to stay together and led many to Jesus in their bunk house. In the book, The Hiding Place, Corrie relates a story of how their group of women gave thanks for the fleas and body lice as it kept the guards from molesting them. Betsie died in December of 1944. Twelve days following Betsie’s death Corrie was released from the prison. It was a miracle due to a clerical error. All the female prisoners that were in her age group were put to death one week following her release.

Corrie created a ministry that took her all over the world. She preached Jesus and talked about her time in the concentration camp, the loss of her family and friends, the terrible conditions they lived in, and how the Lord had been glorified in all. She also talked often about forgiveness.

One day in a church in Germany after sharing her account and telling those there that Jesus will wash away their sin if they let him, she stood in the back greeting people. A man came to her excited to meet her and beaming he thanked her for her message and told her he was so thankful that Jesus had washed his sin away. Corrie records that she could not greet the man. He held out his hand to her, and she could not take it. He had been one of the guards at Ravensbrück. Evil, angry, vengeful thoughts rolled through her mind as she faced this man, and the Holy Spirit reminded her that Christ had died for him also. She silently prayed twice for the Lord to help her forgive, and finally it came. When she took his hand a love sprang up in her heart for this stranger and she noted that Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and then He give us the love required.

Corrie’s story is intense in the suffering at the hands of Nazi guards, yet her joyful countenance in that place carried her through the terrors and grief she faced. She wrote many books and there are videos of her online. I encourage you to learn more about this mighty woman of God.

I will leave you this month with words Corrie ten Boom spoke, “We have nothing to fear because Jesus is Victor, and He will never let us down. With Jesus, even in our darkest moments, the best remains. And the very best is yet to be.”

Whatever you have suffered, whatever you are suffering, and whatever you will face and suffer through in the future I pray you will hold fast to Jesus as Amy Carmicheal through her pain, Elizabeth Elliott through her grief, and Corrie ten Boom through her imprisonment also held tight to Him.