Suffering Under Faith: The Life of Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie Ten Boom’s astounding life story; “The Hiding place” is and incredible story about her and her sister Betsie, being sent to concentration camps for hiding Jews in WWII. Despite enduring so much pain throughout this adventure, corrie and her sister continuously worshipped God. Everyday these two sisters had to convince each other, and themselves, that all this suffering would soon end, and they would soon be free from the “hell”, or the concentration camp that they had been placed in. And, yet, Corrie and Betsie somehow managed to keep in mind that God was with them. Before the whole adventure began, corrie’s mother became very ill. Although her mother suffered bed ridden and unwell, she worshipped the Lord with all her heart. Though she soon died leaving her family to mourn her death. Although through death come great suffering, corrie ten boom;s mother lead a great example to what is about to come for corrie and betsie. All Corrie Ten Boom’s suffering began after a quite normal and simple life. Willem, corrie ten boom’s brother, started working in the secret underground where he learned that Hitler wanted to take away the Jews, and put them into concentration camps. Corrie and the rest of her family took on the responsibility of hiding several Jews in their house. The very first big step of their adventure began when a man brought a baby jew into their house, seeking help.

The Jew needed a place to stay, yet even the pastor of a church wouldn’t take it, stating it was too dangerour. The courageus family decided they would find a place for this baby to stay, hence beginning the house rule that the door will be open to anyone who needs help. Since God is the source of all goodness, his glory is the wellspring of all joy. What God does for his own sake benefits us. Therefore whatever glorifies him is good for us. And that includes the suffering he allows or brings into our lives. God refines us in our suffering and graciously explains why: “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this” (Isaiah 48:10). For emphasis, God repeats this reason. If you don’t understand that the universe is about God and his glory, and that whatever exalts God’s glory also works for your ultimate good, then you will misunderstand this passage and countless others. Some consider God egotistical or cruel to test us for his sake. But the testing he does for his sake accrues to our eternal benefit. How often have you heard people say, “I grew closest to God when my life was free from pain and suffering”?