The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: THANKFUL (11/14/19)
Corrie ten Boom tells a story in her book, The Hiding Place, about fleas. The barracks in Ravensbruck concentration camp was infested and her sister, Betsie, thanked God for the fleas. Corrie did not share her sister’s attitude of gratitude. Instead, she complained about the fleas and many other aspects of concentration camp life. Betsie’s answer was 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Corrie was not so sure that even God could make her give thanks for fleas, but Bestie still thanked God for the fleas.

There have been many times when my personal life was infested with fleas of a different kind: divorce, loss of a loved one, financial struggles, abuse, unfair treatment, a child’s diagnosis of cancer. Most of the time, I feel much more like Corrie than her sister, Bestie. How are we to give thanks in some of life’s difficult situations?

I am reminded of an analogy I once heard from a missionary. God is weaving a tapestry in our lives. We often see the back side of the tapestry: the tangled mess of strings. We do not see the front side where the beautiful picture is being formed.

Corrie ten Boom tells the story of the fleas because it does not stop with her complaining. Instead, they realized that the reason they had the freedom to carry on a Bible Study in the barracks was because the guards would not go in because of the fleas. God was using the fleas to weave His tapestry in the lives of the other prisoners through Corrie and Bestie being in the flea-infested barracks to share His Gospel.

When I allow myself to lament to God about my own flea-infested situations, rather than to just complain about them, He fills me with His peace in my heart about the situation. He has used songs to tell me that the pain I was going through would bring a time of healing that I didn’t even realize that I needed. He has provided for my financial needs in ways that only He could do. I was able to see the cancer diagnosis restore the relationship between my son and his father.

I am not always quick to thank God in all circumstances. But when I do, I am able to see the blessing in even the most flea-infested situations of my life.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 309 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Corinne Smelker 
11/21/19
Great analogy - and I remember that account of the fleas! Well written and thought-provoking.
Dennis Gallemore
11/21/19
I really liked the tapestry vignette.
Barbara Culler 
11/22/19
I remember reading that story of Corie Ten Boom, and I've heard the tapestry reference, which is a very good illustration. What we see as a bad situation, God plans it for a good for us outcome.
Laurie Glass 
11/24/19
I like this honest and thought-provoking piece. And I like the tapestry reference. Well done.
Nancy Sullivan 
11/24/19
I like the analogy of the fleas in our lives. They serve as a reminder of how dire things can be and the power of a grateful heart.
Doug Spurling
11/28/19
Thank you for the raw honesty.

It seems you just scratched the surface of the wealth of wisdom buried in your real-life circumstances

Thank you for sharing
Debra Brand 
11/29/19
Thanks for the reminder. Good story!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/01/19
This is really beautiful and a great reminder during a time when I really needed it.