When Jesus Takes Your Hand....

Tonight as I was working to put together the November edition of this blog I picked up a book that I've read pieces of many times through the years: "In My Father's House" by Corrie ten Boom. Corrie's story is one that almost everyone knows. She was born and raised in Haarlem, in North Holland. Her family helped shelter Jews during the holocaust, and she and her family were eventually imprisoned for it.

The story that caught me tonight stopped me because it used a verse in Deuteronomy that I wrote on my bedroom mirror this past week.

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and under-
neath are the ever-
lasting arms:"


"There were so many times when the problems of the moment, whether they were small or large, would overwhelm me. I remember a time...when Mother became very ill. I was so worried about her, and in addition I knew there was a large bill which had to be paid within the next few days. People were not interested in buying watches at that time, and Father and I were sitting in the dining room talking things over.
I stared at the familiar red and black tablecloth which had seen happy and sad times. I felt so depressed. Everything was wrong, and there didn't seem to be any good thing which could come out of such a discouraging situation.
"Father, what must we do? Everything is so terrible!"
"Don't forget, Corrie- underneath are everlasting arms. We won't fall."
I didn't know that expression and I asked "is that in the Bible?"
"It certainly is. Moses spoke those words to the sons of Israel."
"How does that help us now?"
"Girl, it makes all the difference. Moses tells us in the Book of Deuteronomy that God is a dwelling place. We have the promise of security when His arms are beneath us... holding us...supporting us... strengthening us."
Thirty years later I was lying on a dirty mattress in a concentration camp. It was pitch-dark, and in that restless room Betsie lay so close to me that I could feel her heartbeat. It was irregular and feeble.
I tried to think of something comforting to say to her before we fell asleep, and suddenly I remembered the dining room, the red and black tablecloth, and Father saying in his calm voice, "... underneath are everlasting arms."
"Betsie, are you asleep?"
"No, not yet," she said weakly.
"Remember what Father told us: 'God is our dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms.' "
I can't be sure, but I believe she must have smiled in that black barracks.
"Oh, yes, Corrie... and they will never leave us."


When Jesus takes your hand He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight He leads you through life. When Jesus leads you through life He brings you safely home. - Casper ten Boom (Corrie's Father)


~Joanna Renae