Giving Thanks in All Circumstances by Grace

Many people ask: How can you follow a God who allows bad things to happen?  

Corrie ten Boom’s life shows us the answer. Her relationship with God is what kept her going. Corrie loved the Lord and her faith was very strong. She was influenced by her devoted father Casper and beloved sister Betsy. Their faith and love for Jewish people kept them together and strengthened their family. 

Corrie, Casper, and Betsy worked together to help hide Jews during the holocaust. They rescued them from arrest and deportation during the German occupation. The family courageously risked their own lives to save the Jews.  Soon after successfully hiding hundreds of Jews, the three of them were arrested. Just ten days after their imprisonment Father Casper died.  

Corrie and Betsy were taken to Ravensbruck concentration camp. This was a difficult time for them, and even though they were both scared, they remained strong in their faith. During their time in the camp the barracks they stayed in became infested with fleas. They were suffering, and at the time Corrie couldn’t see the good that God was working—until Betsy quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 

 Corrie still would not give thanks for the fleas. Betsy gently remined her that she could give thanks that they were still together and that the guards didn’t thoroughly check her bag, leaving her Bible unconfiscated! Corrie agreed she could be thankful for those things but could not bring herself to be thankful for the fleas.  

Later, Corrie realized that the fleas were the very reason she and Betsy had not been assaulted by the guards. Knowing the girls’ barracks were infested with fleas, the guards would not enter. The infestation kept Corrie and Betsy safe. 

It also gave them a chance to share the gospel with the other women in the barracks and study the Bible with them. The fleas were something to be thankful for after all.  

Corrie began looking for the good in bad situations, and I admire her for this. She has inspired me to have faith and trust God even when it seems impossible.  

Because of her, I’m trying my best to view the difficult situations in my life with a new perspective, asking myself what God is trying to tell/teach me and how He might be using this for my good and for the good of others. 

Corrie once said, “You can never learn that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have.”  

Corrie ten boom was an affectionate, practical, disciplined, and courageous women. Sadly, her sister died not long before Corrie was released. When Corrie was finally free from the concentration camp, she began to share the gospel and her experience in the camp with others, becoming an evangelical speaker.  

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”  

This quote from Corrie is so powerful and so true. Her courage and faith have inspired and encouraged so many people.   Corrie’s story has reminded me that whenever I face trials, God is always with me.  He works all things for our good, even if we cannot see it right away. Corrie has inspired me to rejoice and praise God through the difficult times. Through her life I’m encouraged to, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”