Betsy Ten Boom, the sister of Corrie Ten Boom, deeply understood what it meant to bear fruit—not through having the best resources, the loudest voice, or the greatest ability, but by faithfully bearing fruit wherever God placed her. She exemplified growing in the wisdom and knowledge of God, even in circumstances that defied human understanding.
During World War II, Corrie and Betsy were taken captive by the Nazis and imprisoned in a concentration camp. Their dormitory housed many Jewish women who had never heard the gospel. In a miraculous act of providence, Corrie managed to smuggle her Bible into the camp—a near impossibility, as prisoners were stripped of all possessions, forced into degrading uniforms, and subjected to harsh treatment. But somehow, God preserved that Bible.
In the cramped and lice-infested quarters of their dormitory, Corrie and Betsy began holding secret Bible studies. These gatherings brought the hope of the gospel to women who would not survive the camp. Many of them found salvation in Jesus Christ before their lives ended.
One day, overwhelmed by the misery of their surroundings, Corrie began complaining about the relentless lice that plagued their beds, clothes, and hair. Betsy, however, saw things differently. She gently reminded her sister, “Oh, Corrie, don’t you see? It’s the hand of God. The guards won’t come into our dorm because of the lice. That’s why we can have Bible studies and teach these women about Jesus.
Through lice—a symbol of misery—God opened the door for His Word to reach those who desperately needed it. Betsy understood that even in the darkest and most puzzling circumstances, God was working for His glory and their good, though His ways were often beyond human comprehension.
Betsy died in the camp, but Corrie was miraculously released just before her scheduled execution. Later, as she shared their story, Corrie reflected on how she had once seen their trials as meaningless suffering. But in hindsight, she recognized God’s purpose in it all. What she thought was meant for evil, God had used for good.
This story serves as a powerful reminder to reflect on the “lice” in our own lives—the trials and inconveniences we complain about. Could these challenges be part of God’s plan to accomplish something greater than we can imagine?
As Corrie’s story continues to inspire, it also challenges us to pray for those who face their own spiritual battles today. Many people, like those in the concentration camp, live without hope and without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that God would open their eyes to what truly matters—not wealth, power, or possessions, but the eternal hope found in Him.
Pastor Glenn Knudson, on Bearing Fruit. Hear the Sermon