For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• Romans 8:38-39

“Sometimes I experienced moments of great despair. I remember one night when I was outside the barracks on my way to roll call. The stars were beautiful. I remember saying, ‘Lord, You guide all those stars. You have not forgotten them, but You have forgotten Betsie and me.’
“Then Betsie said, ‘No, He has not forgotten us. The Lord Jesus said, “I am with you always, until the end of the world,” and Corrie, He is here with us right now. We must believe that. It is not what we feel that counts, but what we believe!’ Feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving. My warrant is the Word of God; none else is worth believing. …
“I remember another time when I felt terribly alone. One day for the first time, a beam of sunlight shone through the window. I jumped up and stood so that the sunshine touched my face. As it moved, I did too, just to enjoy that beam as long as possible.
“I cried to the Lord, and He answered, Have you forgotten that there is always, under all circumstances, the sunshine of My love? Have I not told you that I would be with you always? I am your peace. I can give you joy, even now.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place

“It is not what I feel that counts, it’s what I believe.  God has not forgotten me.”

• Corrie ten Boom, Highlighted Quote

Boilerplate

In this new mini-series, I will be looking at a devotion that is said to be written by Corrie ten Boom.  Really, this devotion is like several that I had read.  They come from the writings of that person.  Thus, the prayers at the end may be the editor’s addition to what Corrie ten Boom actually wrote.

Each of these posts will include the suggested verses to read, a quote from the writing that came from a Corrie ten Boom book (five in all according to the copyright page, but no chapter in the book is given the specific book of origin).  I will also include the highlighted quote, similar to an internet quotation, and I will end with the quoted prayer for that devotion.

Discussion

In this story, Tante Corrie was remembering times in the concentration camp, Ravensbruck.  Ravensbruck was a work camp, not a death camp, but over 96,000 women died in the camp, many by starvation.

When your body is telling you that it needs nourishment, the feelings that you have are more visceral, but Tante Corrie learned to have faith in God instead of relying on the feelings that were screaming loudly.

It was not easy.  Even after she made the rational decision to trust God rather than emotions, the emotions continued to shout, and she would occasionally listen.

That is the same with all of us I suppose.  I remember the old joke about never praying for patience that is not much of a joke.  A prayer for patience is always followed by a test of patience.  God gave us the tools that we need.  We must practice those things to know from where to draw the strength.  It is not from within the powers that our body has.  We need God’s strength to remember that God has our situation in hand.  He has us in His hands.  And He loves us.

So, when we feel that we are alone and having to do it alone, we have forgotten that God never left our side, and it is possible that we have not exercised that muscle that let’s God do the heavy lifting, because we relied on His strength.

Closing Prayer

“Father, when my heart is faint and overwhelmed, lead me to the mighty, towering Rock of safety. Let me feel the sweet radiance of Your smile when I’m surrounded by darkness. I want to know the nearness of Your presence when everything feels like it is crashing down around me. You have promised to never leave me or forsake me. I know You hear me when I cry and will comfort me with Your love. On You, I wait.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place (prayer for Day 25, Has God Forgotten Me?)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.