"You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your Word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments
of my God.
Uphold me according to Your promise,
that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!"
Psalm 119:113-118
Not long ago, Danny and I finished reading the powerful book The Hiding Place written by Corrie Ten Boom--Corrie's personal account of being thrust from the life of a simple Dutch watch-maker into the nightmarish existence of a Concentration Camp in central Germany. "You are my hiding place and my shield" was a verse often referenced in this book describing the life of powerful people of faith looking to the strength of Christ to get them through the most horrendous circumstances. This book not only challenged Danny and I in our walk of faith, but it also offered comfort as we go through the most difficult thing we've yet been through in life. I'm going to use this blog space to share a few thoughts from the book that changed our perspective on how we not only view our own lives, but also the life of our little precious Jace.
One of the hardest things that Danny and I have had to come to grips with over the past three months is the idea of death. Death is probably one of the most feared events, simply because it is inevitable and it is something that we cannot understand. Losing a loved one has long been a fear of mine, and being faced with the possibility of losing a son has often been impossible for me to grasp or deal with. The Hiding Place describes times when death was not only eminent, it was a daily aspect of life for the people in the story. At one point, Corrie tells her dad that she wouldn't be able to bear it if he died, and her dad responds with one of the wisest statements I have yet heard in regards to death. "...our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things too," Corrie's father states, "Don't run ahead of Him Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need--just in time." Danny and I have come to the realization that no matter when our Lord chooses to take Jace into His arms, we will have the strength at that moment to let him go.
Personally, I've struggled recently to be content with the circumstances I find myself in. Sometimes I look at Jace and I wish desperately that he were well, that things were normal. I've realized that in wishing this I'm basing happiness or contentment on what's going on around me or how comfortable I feel. In the Hiding Place, Corrie's mom makes a statement that I constantly carry with me: "Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie. It's something we make inside ourselves" (37). I am often reminded of Paul's statement in Philippians 4:11-13--"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned that in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In other words, Christ can give us the strength to have contentment no matter what circumstance or situation we are in.
There are so many wonderful quotes in this book, that it would take me weeks to sit down and write about my thoughts on each one of them. Instead, I will simply write the quotes down for you to read and work your mind over. My hope is that these quotes bless and teach you as much as they blessed and taught Danny and I.
"But if God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know--to tell us that this too is in His hands" (63).
"There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety--O Corrie, let us pray that we may always know it" (67)!
"Love. How did one show it? How could God Himself show truth and love at the same time in a world like this? By dying. The answer stood out for me sharper and chiller than it ever had before that night: the shape of a Cross etched on the history of the world" (88).
"It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy. 'Will You carry this too, Lord Jesus?' But as the rest of the world grew stranger, one thing became increasingly clear. And that was the reason the two of us were here. Why others should suffer we were not shown. As for us, from morning until lights-out, whenever we were not in ranks for roll call, our Bible was the center of an ever-widening circle of help and hope. Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered about it, holding out our hearts to its warmth and life. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God. 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.'...Life in Ravensbruck took place on two separate levels, mutually impossible. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God, grew daily better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory" (177-178).
"...when we've lost a friend, when a dream has failed, when we seem to have nothing left in the world to make life beautiful--that's when God says: You're richer than you think" (221).
One of the hardest things that Danny and I have had to come to grips with over the past three months is the idea of death. Death is probably one of the most feared events, simply because it is inevitable and it is something that we cannot understand. Losing a loved one has long been a fear of mine, and being faced with the possibility of losing a son has often been impossible for me to grasp or deal with. The Hiding Place describes times when death was not only eminent, it was a daily aspect of life for the people in the story. At one point, Corrie tells her dad that she wouldn't be able to bear it if he died, and her dad responds with one of the wisest statements I have yet heard in regards to death. "...our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things too," Corrie's father states, "Don't run ahead of Him Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need--just in time." Danny and I have come to the realization that no matter when our Lord chooses to take Jace into His arms, we will have the strength at that moment to let him go.
Personally, I've struggled recently to be content with the circumstances I find myself in. Sometimes I look at Jace and I wish desperately that he were well, that things were normal. I've realized that in wishing this I'm basing happiness or contentment on what's going on around me or how comfortable I feel. In the Hiding Place, Corrie's mom makes a statement that I constantly carry with me: "Happiness isn't something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie. It's something we make inside ourselves" (37). I am often reminded of Paul's statement in Philippians 4:11-13--"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned that in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In other words, Christ can give us the strength to have contentment no matter what circumstance or situation we are in.
There are so many wonderful quotes in this book, that it would take me weeks to sit down and write about my thoughts on each one of them. Instead, I will simply write the quotes down for you to read and work your mind over. My hope is that these quotes bless and teach you as much as they blessed and taught Danny and I.
"But if God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them. That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know--to tell us that this too is in His hands" (63).
"There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety--O Corrie, let us pray that we may always know it" (67)!
"Love. How did one show it? How could God Himself show truth and love at the same time in a world like this? By dying. The answer stood out for me sharper and chiller than it ever had before that night: the shape of a Cross etched on the history of the world" (88).
"It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy. 'Will You carry this too, Lord Jesus?' But as the rest of the world grew stranger, one thing became increasingly clear. And that was the reason the two of us were here. Why others should suffer we were not shown. As for us, from morning until lights-out, whenever we were not in ranks for roll call, our Bible was the center of an ever-widening circle of help and hope. Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered about it, holding out our hearts to its warmth and life. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God. 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.'...Life in Ravensbruck took place on two separate levels, mutually impossible. One, the observable, external life, grew every day more horrible. The other, the life we lived with God, grew daily better, truth upon truth, glory upon glory" (177-178).
"...when we've lost a friend, when a dream has failed, when we seem to have nothing left in the world to make life beautiful--that's when God says: You're richer than you think" (221).
2 comments:
Lauren, Danny, & Jace,
We've been keeping up with Jace from my husband's Aunt Shari. We have been so encouraged by your endurance and faith during this trying time. We will continue to pray for your family.
Much love,
Ashley Boothe
Wow. Even though I don't and haven't faced anything like you guys have, your words are still so applicable to my life and my fears of death. Thank you for touching me through your blog!!
Amy (Hare) Farley
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