If you haven’t read the book The Hiding Place I would
encourage you to do so. It’s the story of the struggles of a young woman and
her family during the holocaust. Corrie
Ten Boom and her sister suffered terribly in the concentration camps where her
father and sister subsequently died. Corrie alone survived to be set free. She
went on to write her story and speak across the continents on, of all things,
God’s love. One of the stories in her book
stands out to me. Corrie and her sister were Christians and they loved to share
the Bible with others, even while in prison.
The guard would come into the barracks and regularly harass and do
terrible things to the women. But the barracks that Corrie and her sister were
in was full of fleas. They were
horrible! Corrie regularly complained about them. Her sister Betsie finally had an answer as
Betsie suggested they give thanks to God for the fleas. Although Corrie was
astonished at this idea she soon realized her sister was right. Because of the fleas, the guards would not
come into their area. This gave them free opportunity to share Christ with the
women there. Those women, in such foul
circumstances, were drawn to the Bible studies as though it was all they had,
and indeed it truly was. Through those
fleas, God protected the women from abuse and harassment. Dozens of desperate women were free to hear
the comforting, hope-giving Word of God.
Through those fleas, God protected the women from much worse things and
made sure they had their deepest, truest needs met.
We all have “fleas” in our lives. Those things that seem to
cause such hardship, harassment and trouble.
We have the choice in our circumstances to curse God for them or to give
thanks to Him in them. While hard things do happen and trials do come, we can
rejoice regardless of our circumstances. It is only in giving each thing to God
and seeing Him work in spite of them that we find both peace and purpose.
Oh beloved, are you tired of cursing your situation? Are you
finding that you are tired and worn out from concentrating only on those “fleas”? The Lord speaks to you this morning and He
says, through His Word, “Give me thanks in all things” for I inhabit your
praises. I love you son, I love you daughter and I can use each circumstance to
let you highlight my glory and spread the Gospel to all. I have a purpose for your life and it is
good. If you will trust Me today I will take the “fleas” of your life and turn
them into stepping stones for your ministry.
Trust Me. I have you by the hand and I will relieve you of your burdens
as you thank Me!
Run to Him this morning and give thanks! He loves you and He’s
for you and He wants to use you to share Himself with others and that’s all
that really matters!
I Thessalonians 5:18
Amplified Thank
[God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and
give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus
[the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
Psalm 100:4 Enter His
gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and
praise His name.
Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
