The Hiding Place

1. Unwavering Faith Amidst Rising Darkness

“It is wrong to give people hope when there is no hope,” he said. “It is wrong to base faith upon wishes. There will be war. The Germans will attack and we will fall.”

A family's spiritual compass. The ten Boom family, led by their deeply devout father, lived by a profound faith that guided them even before the shadows of World War II fully enveloped Holland. Father Casper, a beloved watchmaker, possessed an almost prophetic clarity, discerning the true nature of the Nazi threat when others clung to false hopes of neutrality. His unwavering trust in God's sovereignty, even in the face of impending doom, set the spiritual tone for the entire household.

Wisdom in trusting God's timing. Corrie, as a child, learned a crucial lesson from her father about knowledge and trust. When she asked about difficult subjects, he likened it to carrying a heavy suitcase: "Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you." This principle extended to their understanding of suffering and death, with Father assuring them that God would provide the necessary strength "just in time." This foundational trust would prove vital as they faced unimaginable horrors.

Early warnings and moral clarity. Long before the invasion, Corrie's brother Willem, an ordained minister, recognized the "terrible evil" taking root in Germany, particularly its contempt for human life and systematic anti-Semitism. His doctoral thesis on racial anti-Semitism, written in 1927, was initially dismissed, but his insights proved chillingly accurate. The family's encounter with Herr Gutlieber, a Jewish refugee whose beard was set on fire by teenagers in Munich, served as a stark, personal confirmation of the escalating madness, solidifying their resolve to stand with God's "ancient people."

2. The Beje: A Sanctuary of Love and Resistance

“In this household,” Father said, “God’s people are always welcome.”

An open door in a closing world. The ten Boom home, the Beje, was already a hub of hospitality and compassion, a place where foster children, the poor, and the neglected found warmth and care. This spirit of unconditional welcome became a lifeline when the Nazi occupation began to target Jewish citizens. Father's simple declaration that "God's people are always welcome" transformed their watch shop and living quarters into a clandestine haven, a beacon of hope in a city increasingly shrouded in fear.

Building the underground network. Corrie, initially a shy spinster watchmaker, found herself at the heart of a burgeoning underground network. Guided by Willem's advice to "develop your own sources," she leveraged her extensive community connections, from the Food Office (where Fred Koornstra "stole" ration cards) to the national Resistance (introduced by the eccentric Pickwick). This network, which eventually involved eighty Dutchmen, provided essential resources:

• Ration cards: Obtained through staged "hold-ups" at the Food Office.
• False identity papers: Supplied by the national underground.
• Safe houses: Arranged through a web of contacts across Holland.
• Warning systems: An electric buzzer and a hidden "alpina" sign to signal danger.

The secret room: a hidden refuge. The most critical addition to the Beje's defenses was a secret room, cunningly constructed in Corrie's bedroom by Mr. Smit, a renowned architect from the national underground. This concealed space, designed to hold six people, became the ultimate sanctuary during Gestapo raids. Regular drills, though terrifying, ensured that the Jewish "boarders" could disappear without a trace in under seventy seconds, a testament to the meticulous planning and courage required to defy the occupation.

3. Divine Provision in Desperate Times

“There are no ‘ifs’ in God’s world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety—Oh Corrie, let us pray that we may always know it!”

Miracles in the mundane. Amidst the constant threat and scarcity of wartime, the ten Booms experienced numerous instances of divine provision that defied logic. Betsie's unwavering faith often highlighted these moments, reminding Corrie that God's care extended to every detail. From the shrapnel landing on Corrie's pillow instead of her head, to the miraculous supply of Davitamon oil that never seemed to empty, these small wonders reinforced their belief that they were operating within God's will.

Unexpected sources of help. God's provision often came through unexpected channels and individuals. The kind nurse at the doctor's office, who risked her safety to smuggle Gospels, soap, and safety pins into Corrie's solitary cell, was one such example. Even the seemingly trivial detail of fleas in Barracks 28 at Ravensbruck became a blessing, as guards avoided the infested area, allowing Betsie and Corrie to hold Bible studies freely and openly.

The Bible as a living word. The smuggled Bible became their most precious possession, a source of comfort, strength, and revelation. In the bleakness of prison, its words "burned brighter and truer and more beautiful," transforming their understanding of suffering and God's plan. Corrie realized that the stories of Jesus' suffering were not just ancient texts but a "description of the way things were," giving context and meaning to their own trials.

4. The Transformative Power of Forgiveness

“There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill the love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or, Corrie, we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.”

Father's wisdom on love and pain. Corrie's first profound lesson in forgiveness came from her father after her heartbreak over Karel. He taught her that when love is blocked, it causes pain, and the choice is either to kill the love (and a part of oneself) or to ask God to redirect that love. This foundational teaching prepared Corrie for the far greater challenges of forgiving those who inflicted unimaginable cruelty.

Betsie's radical compassion. Betsie embodied radical forgiveness, even praying for the German soldiers bombing Holland. Her compassion extended to Jan Vogel, the man who betrayed their family, for whom she felt "terribly" and prayed, recognizing his own suffering. This profound empathy challenged Corrie's own anger and vengeful thoughts, leading her to a personal transformation where she learned to forgive Jan Vogel and pray for him.

The miracle of divine forgiveness. The ultimate test of forgiveness came after the war when Corrie met a former SS guard from Ravensbruck. Despite her preaching on forgiveness, she found herself unable to extend it to him. In that moment of profound struggle, she prayed, "Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give Your forgiveness." As she took his hand, a miraculous current of love flowed through her, demonstrating that true forgiveness is a divine gift, not a human effort.

5. Finding Purpose in Suffering

“We must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.”

Suffering as a school of faith. For Betsie and Corrie, the concentration camps became an unexpected school where their faith was tested and deepened. Betsie, especially, saw their imprisonment not as an end, but as a unique opportunity to minister to others. She believed their suffering gave them credibility to share God's love and hope with fellow prisoners and even their captors, a message that would resonate because "we have been here."

The paradox of Ravensbruck. Life in Ravensbruck existed on "two separate levels, mutually impossible." The external reality was one of increasing horror, filth, and brutality. Yet, the internal life lived with God grew "daily better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory." This paradox allowed them to find joy and purpose even in the most dehumanizing conditions, transforming their suffering into a platform for spiritual growth and ministry.

A mission born of adversity. Betsie's final days were filled with visions of post-war ministry, a clear purpose emerging from their shared ordeal. She envisioned a home in Holland for war victims and a camp in Germany for those damaged by hate, including former persecutors. These visions, born in the depths of Ravensbruck, became the blueprint for Corrie's future work, demonstrating how God can use the darkest experiences to forge a powerful, redemptive mission.

6. The Strength of Human Connection and Compassion

“We’re the orphan children—the ones nobody else wanted. Any one of us is jeopardizing all the others. I vote that Mary stay.”

The Beje: a family of choice. The ten Booms' home was always open, first to foster children, then to Jewish refugees and underground workers. This created a diverse "family" bound not by blood, but by shared purpose and mutual vulnerability. The decision to keep Mary Itallie, an elderly asthmatic woman whose wheezing posed a significant risk, exemplified this deep compassion. Eusie's powerful plea, "We're the orphan children—the ones nobody else wanted," underscored their collective identity and commitment to one another.

Solidarity in the camps. In the dehumanizing environment of Scheveningen and Ravensbruck, human connection became a vital source of strength. Corrie's cellmates, though initially wary, eventually shared their meager resources and offered comfort. The collective communication during Hitler's birthday, shouting names and messages across cells, demonstrated a powerful solidarity. Even small acts of kindness, like the nurse smuggling in Gospels or Corrie helping patients with bedpans, shone brightly against the backdrop of cruelty.

Unsung heroes of the underground. The underground network was a testament to the power of ordinary people uniting for a common cause. Individuals like Fred Koornstra, who risked his life to provide ration cards, and Rolf van Vliet, the policeman who secretly aided the ten Booms, exemplified quiet heroism. These connections, often forged in secrecy and danger, formed a resilient web of compassion that saved countless lives and sustained the spirit of resistance.

7. Visions of Hope Beyond the Horror

“It’s such a beautiful house, Corrie! The floors are all inlaid wood, with statues set in the walls and a broad staircase sweeping down. And gardens! Gardens all around it where they can plant flowers. It will do them such good, Corrie, to care for flowers!”

Betsie's prophetic dreams. Even as her body weakened in Ravensbruck, Betsie's spirit soared with vivid visions of a post-war world transformed by God's love. She described in detail a beautiful house in Holland, far grander than the Beje, with inlaid wood floors, a sweeping staircase, and extensive gardens. This house was to be a place of healing and renewal for those "damaged by concentration-camp life," where they could recover and learn to live unafraid again.

A camp for the persecutors. Betsie's second, even more astonishing vision, was for a former concentration camp in Germany. This camp, she foresaw, would be painted "bright, light green, like springtime," and would serve as a home where those "warped by this philosophy of hate and force" – the German people, including their former captors – could come to learn another way. She believed that "people can learn to love, from flowers," emphasizing the power of beauty and nature in healing.

The blueprint for the future. These visions were not mere fantasies but a divine blueprint for Corrie's post-war ministry. Betsie spoke of them with such conviction and detail that they became a tangible reality for Corrie, a promise of God's redemptive work. They provided a powerful counter-narrative to the despair of the camp, offering a glimpse of a future where love and healing would triumph over hatred and destruction.

8. The Enduring Legacy of Love and Service

“And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”

Fulfilling Betsie's dreams. After her release from Ravensbruck, Corrie, though initially lost and directionless, found her purpose in fulfilling Betsie's visions. She began speaking, sharing their story and the lessons learned in the camps. This led to the establishment of the Bloemendaal house in Holland, a fifty-six-room mansion that perfectly matched Betsie's description, becoming a haven for war victims from across Europe and Indonesia.

Healing through forgiveness and compassion. The Bloemendaal house became a place where people could heal from their deep wounds, often by confronting the need to forgive their persecutors. Corrie observed that the hardest forgiveness was often for fellow Dutchmen who had collaborated. In a radical act of compassion, she eventually turned the Beje itself over to former NSBers (Dutch collaborators), offering them a chance at rehabilitation and demonstrating that love could extend even to those who had caused immense pain.

A global message of hope. Corrie's ministry expanded globally, taking her to 61 countries, including those behind the Iron Curtain. She shared the profound truth learned in Ravensbruck: "Jesus can turn loss into glory." Her life became a living testament to the power of God's love and forgiveness, inspiring countless individuals to find hope and purpose even in the darkest of circumstances, leaving an enduring legacy of faith, courage, and unconditional love.