Corrie ten Boom, among other things, is a beautiful example of living
joyfully and casting every care upon the Lord. Many believers are familiar with
Corrie ten Boom, or at least with some of her quotes. For anyone who is not
familiar with her, Corrie ten Boom was a native of Holland who endured
incredible suffering during WWII under Hitler’s takeover of her country and of
his subsequent persecution of the Jews in Holland as well as other countries.
Corrie and her family hid Jews in their home, were discovered, and she, her
sister and brother and father were sent to concentration camps. Only Corrie and
her brother (who passed away shortly after he was released) survived. The Lord
used Corrie’s joyful witness in the midst of suffering and sorrow to speak to
many countless people about the love and forgiveness of God and His peace in
the midst of suffering. If someone has not read any of Corrie’s books, I would
encourage you to go and find one; any one! (A list will be included at the end of this post). Her joyful, loving, down-to-earth
example is like a balm for the soul. Corrie encourages her readers to trust in
God for everything. She says, “Worry will not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it
will empty today of its strength.” Corrie knew the Word of God; she had huge portions
of it memorized and the Lord’s joy through
His Word radiated from Corrie. She believed God’s promises literally and often
saw His hand at work in horrible circumstances. Corrie tells a story about one
time in the concentration camp when she was discouraged and asked the Lord for
a sign of His goodness. He showed her one single flower outside her window and
her heart was cheered. Corrie believed God’s promises and leaned upon Him
continually for strength; He was her strength and she trusted in Him. If we
believe the promises of our Heavenly Father, as Corrie did, it is difficult for
worry to gain a stronghold in our lives. Corrie taught that God may be trusted,
even through the most difficult of circumstances. He is the living, risen
Savior who holds tomorrow in His hands.
In her subsequent ministry after she was miraculously released from the
concentration camp, Corrie continued to depend upon the Lord as she traveled
and spoke to many people about the joy of the Lord and of His work in the lives
of sinners. Often, she felt weary in the work, but she pressed on, hoping and
depending upon her merciful Savior, and taking the strength for each day that
she needed from Him. How many of us often need a refreshing
touch from the hand of the Lord? We grow weary in the day to day business of
taking care of our families and children. We love the work that God has given
us, just as Corrie did, and yet sometimes we get worn down by the strain that
it takes upon our strength. We can cry out to the Lord in these times, just as
Corrie ten Boom did, and He will give us fresh supplies. He will put a new song
in our mouth and as we press into His purposes in our lives ~~serving Him by
loving and training up our children and being a servant in our family—He will
refresh and revive us and cause His fresh springs of water to flow through us.
Sometimes we feel like we cannot take another step forward, whether physically
or emotionally. And this is where the strength of the Lord comes in. We don’t
have the strength in ourselves to go forward, and so we take from the
fathomless resource of His strength. And we are filled and useful to Him.
What about us? Do we trust in the Lord as Corrie ten Boom did? Do we rely
upon His promises? Do we trust, as the old hymn says, that He “will lead His
dear children along” or are we worried and fretful, fearing what may come
tomorrow? May we rest in our merciful Savior and be filled by His sustaining,
strengthening grace!
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ
Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
What a lovely eulogy/biography/tribute to such a loving, faithful woman. I do believe that is the gravestone of her father, Casper ten Boom, for she was still living in the very early eighties, when she spoke in Memphis.
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