by Jessica Westfall
Last week was Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. I love Thanksgiving not only because of the pumpkin pie and time with family, I love the focus on gratitude. There is so much in life to be thankful for!
I want to share this exert from The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. This is a true story about two women who were hiding Jews during World War II. They were caught and sent to a German Concentration camp called Ravensbruck.
““Betsie, how can we live in such a place!”
“Show us. Show us how.” It was said so matter of factly it took me a second to realize she was praying. More and more the distinction between prayer and the rest of life seemed to be vanishing for Betsie.
“Corrie!” she said excitedly. “He’s given us the answer! Before we asked, as He always does! In the Bible this morning. Where was it? Read that part again!”
I glanced down the long dim aisle to make sure no guard was in sight, then drew the Bible from its pouch. “It was in First Thessalonians,” I said. We were on our third complete reading of the New Testament…Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus—’”
“That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances!’ That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!”
I stared at her, then around me at the dark, foul-aired room.
“Such as?” I said.
“Such as being assigned here together.”
I bit my lip. “Oh yes, Lord Jesus!”
“Such as what you’re holding in your hands.”
I looked down at the Bible. . . .“‘Give thanks in all circumstances,’” she quoted. “It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”
And so we stood between piers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”
The sisters found out later that it was because of the fleas that the guards would not enter their cell. Because they would not enter, they did not find the Bible that the sisters so dearly loved and it wasn’t taken away.
Even the hard times can work out for our good! When things get hard, look for the good and as you look, your eyes may just be opened to all the good that can come from life, even the trials.