The story of Corrie ten Boom—a Dutch watchmaker who, along with her family, hid Jews during the Holocaust and later survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp—is one of the most powerful testimonies of the 20th century. Her life offers profound lessons on the limits of human strength and the boundlessness of divine grace. Her Book is available here
Here are the key lessons we can learn from her testimony:
1. Forgiveness is an Act of the Will, Not a Feeling
Perhaps her most famous lesson came after the war when she encountered a former S.S. guard from Ravensbrück. She felt paralyzed by hatred and could not bring herself to shake his hand.
• The Lesson: Forgiveness is a decision. Corrie prayed, "I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling."
• Takeaway: When we are commanded to love our enemies, God doesn’t just give the command; He provides the love itself when our own has run dry.
2. "No Pit is So Deep That God’s Love is Not Deeper Still"
Corrie and her sister Betsie lived through the unspeakable horrors of the "Extermination Camp" for women. Even in a place defined by dehumanization and death, they found that God’s presence was accessible.
• The Lesson: There is no environment or situation so dark that it can shut out the light of God.
• Takeaway: We often feel our circumstances are "too much" for faith to survive, but Corrie’s life proves that faith is often most visible in total darkness.
3. Gratitude in All Circumstances (Even the "Fleas")
In the barracks at Ravensbrück, the women were tormented by an infestation of fleas. While Corrie complained, Betsie insisted they thank God for them. They later discovered the guards refused to enter their barracks because of the fleas, which allowed the sisters to hold secret Bible studies and prayer meetings undisturbed.
• The Lesson: We rarely see the full picture of why we are enduring a particular "nuisance" or hardship.
• Takeaway: Gratitude isn't about liking your situation; it’s about trusting that God can use even the most miserable details for a greater purpose.
4. Preparation for the Future
Corrie often spoke about how her father, Casper, prepared her for suffering. He told her that God gives us the "ticket" (the strength) for the journey just as we are about to board the train, not weeks in advance.
• The Lesson: Don’t worry about whether you have the strength to handle a future crisis today.
• Takeaway: God provides "dying grace" for the day of death and "suffering grace" for the day of trial. You will have what you need when you need it, and not a moment before.
5. Holding Earthly Things Lightly
Corrie lived by the mantra: "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."
• The Lesson: Tightening our grip on possessions, reputations, or even loved ones only leads to more pain when they are taken.
• Takeaway: True security is found only in the "Hiding Place"—the person of God—rather than in physical safety or worldly stability.
Core Quotes to Remember:
• "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."
• "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
• "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
