Giving Thanks in all Things
Spreading hope faster than the Coronavirus
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18
Many of us know and even frequently quote Romans 8:28. However, I am relating to it in a new way as this coronavirus is currently unfolding. I am reminded of an excellent book, “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom, who survived the holocaust. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were imprisoned for hiding Jews. Their camp was infested with fleas and lice. Fear and uncertainty were constant.
Betsie tried to encourage her sister Corrie to “Give thanks in all circumstances.” But Corrie was not open to Betsie’s suggestion to give thanks for their sufferings.
In the book “The Hiding Place,” Corrie writes:
“That’s it!” Betsie interrupted. “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 barracks!”
Corrie stared at her incredulously, then looked around at the dark, foul-smelling room. “Such as?” she inquired.
“Such as being assigned here together.”
Corrie bit her lip. “Oh yes, Lord Jesus!”
“Such as what you’re holding in your hands.”
Corrie looked down at the Bible. “Yes! Thank You, dear Lord, that there was no inspection when we entered here! Thank You for all the women, here in this room, who will meet You in these pages.”
“Yes,” agreed Betsie. “Thank You for the very crowding here. Since we’re packed so close, that many more will hear!” She looked at her sister expectantly and prodded, “Corrie!”
“Oh, all right. Thank You for the jammed, crammed, stuffed, packed, suffocating crowds.”
“Thank you,” Betsie continued on serenely, “for the fleas and for …”
That was too much for Corrie. She cut in on her sister: “Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.”
“Give thanks in all circumstances,” Betsie corrected. “It doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.” So they stood between the stacks of bunks and gave thanks for fleas, though on that occasion, Corrie thought Betsie was surely wrong.
As the weeks passed, Betsie’s health weakened to the point that, rather than needing to go out on work duty each day, she was permitted to remain in the barracks and knit socks together with other seriously-ill prisoners. She was a lightning-fast knitter and usually had her daily sock quota completed by noon. As a result, she had hours each day she could spend moving from platform to platform, reading the Bible to fellow prisoners. She was able to do this undetected as the guards never seemed to venture far into the barracks.
One evening when Corrie arrived back at the barracks, Betsie’s eyes were twinkling. “You’re looking extraordinarily pleased with yourself,” Corrie told her.
“You know we’ve never understood why we had so much freedom in the big room,” Betsie said, referring to the part of the barracks where the sleeping platforms were. “Well - I’ve found out. This afternoon there was confusion in my knitting group about sock sizes, so we asked the supervisor to come and settle it. But she wouldn’t. She wouldn’t step through the door, and neither would the guards. And you know why?” Betsie could not keep the triumph from her voice as she exclaimed, “Because of the fleas! That’s what she said: ‘That place is crawling with fleas!’”
Giving thanks during difficult times is an act of faith and obedience. It means we trust God, no matter what. I am thankful for Betsie’s act of obedience, meanwhile thanking God for the fleas and lice. It reminds me that when faced with difficult circumstances, we can open ourselves to receive the blessings that God has for us.
“We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.” -Romans 8:28
At Pendleton Center UMC, we want to spread hope faster than the coronavirus and are asking you to join us in our efforts. Share this blog, pray for others, keep looking at those who are doing good, and continue to abide in Christ.
