Free Grace Women

In the spring of 1944, Corrie ten Boom and several members of her family were arrested by Nazi soldiers.  The ten Boom family were a part of the Dutch underground and had been protecting and caring for the Jewish members of their community, hiding them away from prying German eyes.  After their arrest, the family was separated from one another.  Corrie, who was terribly sick with pleurisy, was placed in a small cell to suffer alone.  For weeks she laid on her filthy cot with no one to tenderly nurse her to health.  It was a month before she was even allowed to take a shower.  As her condition miraculously improved, she found creative ways to pass the time, but no talking or singing was allowed.  The ants who marched into the cell in search of crumbs were her only companions.  

After March and April passed, a letter containing tragic news arrived in Corrie’s cell.  Her precious father had died in prison two months earlier.  She called out to a passing guard, pleading for comfort and a sympathetic ear.  The woman rebuked Corrie and left to her grieve alone.  

Another long month passed before Corrie was released from her lonely cell and transported by train car to prison camps where she would remain until December.  Though this season of suffering had ended, Corrie would carry the physical effects of this experience for the rest of her life.  

In many parts of the world, solitary confinement is considered a form of torture.  There are many advocacy groups within the United States that are working to eliminate the use of solitary confinement in our prison systems.  Several studies have shown that some of the effects of this type of imprisonment are visual and auditory hallucinations, insomnia, paranoia, uncontrollable feelings of rage, time and perception distortions, and increased risk of suicide.  During Corrie’s stay in solitary confinement, a kind nurse gave her a small copy of the four gospels.  God’s Word was a source of joy, peace, and light in that dark prison.  

Corrie’s experiences were horrific.  Death, disease, hopelessness, cruelty, and despair surrounded her.  She struggled with anger and fear, but throughout her ordeal, she continually clung to Jesus and to the hope and truth she found in His Word.  And she found Him to be sufficient.  He brought her joy when she was depressed.  He was her comfort when she grieved.  He gave her hope when she wanted to give up.

Isaiah 40:28-29 NKJV

“Have you not known?  Have you not heard, the everlasting GOD, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”  

Sometimes our personal struggles are burdens that we have to carry alone.  Some seasons of life can feel like isolation, and there are losses and hurts that cut deeply into our hearts.  But Friend, Jesus is sufficient.  He lacks nothing.  He is enough for you in your emptiness, in your loneliness, in your grief, in your anger, in your unmet desires, in your stress.  He is enough.  

Psalm 107:8-9

“Oh, that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

There is no need that He cannot meet.  There is no sin that He cannot give you the strength to overcome.  There is no hurt that He cannot bind up and heal. There is no darkness that can overcome His light.  He is not overwhelmed.  There is no end to His goodness and love.  Call out to Him and trust that He is willing and able to meet your needs.  

Psalm 34:8 KJV

“O, taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”

---

---