A Courageous Stand
During the dark days of World War II, Corrie ten Boom, a watchmaker from Haarlem, Netherlands, found herself in a dire situation. Her family, deeply rooted in faith, took the courageous step of hiding Jews from Nazi persecution. This act of defiance led to their arrest on February 28, 1944, and eventually to Ravensbrück concentration camp in Germany.
Faith in the Barracks
In the barracks of Ravensbrück, Corrie experienced profound loss and suffering. Her beloved sister Betsie passed away in December 1944, yet in their darkest moments, Betsie's unwavering faith shone brightly. She once said, 'There is no pit so deep that He [God] is not deeper still.' This belief in God's presence offered Corrie strength and hope.
Amidst such harrowing conditions, Corrie and Betsie managed to hold secret Bible studies. Corrie later recounted how they even thanked God for the fleas in their barracks, as they kept the guards away, allowing them the freedom to share God's word. 'The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God,' Corrie observed.
A Miraculous Release
Corrie's release from Ravensbrück in December 1944, due to a clerical error, felt like a miracle. Her life took a new path as she began a ministry focused on forgiveness and reconciliation.
The Power to Forgive
A poignant moment came in 1947, in a church in Munich, Germany, when a former SS guard from Ravensbrück approached her. Corrie admitted, 'Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.' Yet, empowered by God's love, she reached out and said, 'I forgive you, brother! With all my heart!'
This act of forgiveness was not mere emotion but a conscious decision, as Corrie herself explained, 'Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.' Her journey from a watchmaker to a global messenger of forgiveness and love was a testament to the transformative power of faith in the face of unimaginable adversity.
