I just finished reading an incredible book over the holidays – The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. It describes Corrie, a Christian Dutch watchmaker turned heroine, and her family’s experience during World War II as they risked their lives to help Jews and underground workers escape from the Nazis and their death camps. Corrie survived many trials during this time including long stents in prison and concentration camps. Corrie’s testimony of how God’s presence and power sustained her and carried her throughout this horrific time is really what most impacted me. If you haven’t already read this, I strongly encourage you to check it out. I will even lend you my copy!
There are many poignant moments in the book showing how God prepared her for the difficult days ahead, and how our faithful God delivered her through these trials. One time in particular involved Corrie and Casper, her father, who was a beloved watchmaker and was steadfast in his faith in Jesus. As a child, Corrie and her father often took the train into Amsterdam to purchase supplies and handle other business. Corrie treasured this time with her father and often used it to ask him many questions that burned inside her curious heart. One day, Corrie asked her father of a word she read in a poem that was unknown to her:
And so, seated next to my father in the train compartment, I suddenly asked, “Father, what is sexsin?”
He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads and set it on the floor.
“Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?” he said.
I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he has purchased this morning.
“It’s too heavy,” I said.
“Yes,” he said. “And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. 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.
And I was satisfied. More than satisfied– wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions– for now I was content to leave at my father’s keeping.
(Excerpt from The Hiding Place)
And if an earthly father wisely withholds knowledge that is too heavy to carry, how much more does our Heavenly Father protect us from things which we should not know? Little did Corrie know what kind of dangers lie in store for her. Even though God knew, He shielded her from this knowledge until she was already in the midst of operating a large rescue and support effort out of her home.
I can relate to Corrie’s feeling of peace, resting in a Father’s divine guidance and shelter, knowing that my Lord would not place burdens on me that I am unable to carry. He does the carrying for me. He shelters me from the gravity of my sin and what He did for us on Calvary, knowing that I, in my fragile, childlike frame, cannot handle its oppressive, crushing weight. Aside from sheltering me from my sin, Jesus slowly and deliberately prepares my heart for His truths, and shields my eyes away from those I cannot yet bear.
The Lord is my protector; He is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with Him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; He defends me and keeps me safe. (Psalm 18:2)
-Regina