Faith, Hope and Love - Corrie ten BoomSample

Faith

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for”.

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren- was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise”. - Hebrews 11:1,2,8

Sometimes Hebrews 11 is called the Faith Hall of Heroes. Corrie ten Boom is often called a faith hero as well. But one could wonder if she would have called herself a faith hero. Yes, a faith warrior, a faith witness, even a tramp for the Lord. But she most probably would have refused to receive credit for being a hero.

In her first book, ‘Prisoner and Yet...’ she writes: “We do not need great faith, we need faith in a great Lord”.

Faith is not a feeling, neither is it the intellectual acceptance of facts and truth. Faith is a dependence on God, through acts of obedience and trust. We can do this because He has offered us a solid foundation of grace, forgiveness, loving kindness and power. And He is an ever-present Help in trouble.

For four months Corrie was in solitary confinement in the Scheveningen prison. The threat of interrogation, torture and feeling desolate were continually present. One day, she literally stands with her back against the prison wall and shouts in despair: “Lord I’m not strong enough to endure this. I do not have enough faith”. Then her eyes are drawn to a tiny ant that hurries to a small hiding place: a crack in the wall to get safety from the water that is flowing over the prison floor. The Lord speaks to Corrie and says: “Watch the ant, hurrying straight to her hiding place. Corrie, do not expect anything from your ‘great’ faith, it is as weak as an ant. I’m your Hiding Place, the rock-solid ground on which you can stand. You can always, immediately and everywhere, come to Me, your Hiding Place. Then you will have peace and you can face the unknown, trusting God. I will never leave you, nor forsake you”.

To reflect upon
You can learn more and more not to trust in your own faith, facts and feelings, but to only trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Feelings will come and go, and they can deceive you. But the Lord and His Word are reliable, you can always stand on Him and His promises.

Prayer
Thank You Lord it is not about my ‘great’ faith but about You being a great Lord!