Before the table fills with food and conversation, Thanksgiving gives you a chance to do something deeply spiritual: choose gratitude in hard places, just like Corrie and Betsie ten Boom.
During World War II, these two Dutch sisters (pictured above Betsie, Willem, Nollie, and Corrie) Corrie and Betsie ten Boom thanked God even for the fleas in their concentration camp barracks—only later discovering those very fleas kept the guards away and gave them freedom to pray and share Scripture. Their story reminds us that true Thanksgiving isn’t pretending hardship is good, but trusting that God is at work in what we least understand, and letting gratitude and courage grow together as we stand with Israel. risked their lives to hide Jewish families in their home. For standing with the Jewish people, they were arrested and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Their barracks were filthy, overcrowded, and infested with fleas.
One night, they read this passage:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NIV)
Betsie insisted they obey it literally. She began thanking God for everything in their barracks—even the fleas.
Corrie balked. Fleas felt like cruelty piled on top of suffering. But she chose, through gritted teeth, to whisper, “Thank You for the fleas.”
Later, they discovered something remarkable: the guards avoided their barracks because of the fleas. What felt unbearable had become part of God’s hidden protection, giving them freedom to read Scripture, pray with women, and share the hope of Jesus.
From their story, we can draw a few Thanksgiving lessons as modern-day Esthers and women of Christian Women For Israel.
1. Give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances
Corrie was not thankful for the cruelty, the camp, or the evil of the Nazis. But she chose to thank God in the middle of it.
There’s a difference:
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You don’t have to call evil “good.”
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You don’t have to pretend pain doesn’t hurt.
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You can choose to say, “God, I don’t understand this—but I trust You are still here with me.”
This Thanksgiving, you may be carrying grief, uncertainty, or concern for your family, Israel and the Jewish people, the World! You don’t have to deny any of that to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18. Like Corrie, you can be honest with God and still whisper: “Thank You that You are with me—even here.”
Reflect:
Where is God inviting you to say, “Thank You,” right in the middle of something you do not yet understand?
2. God’s protection is often hidden in what feels unbearable
Those fleas felt like one more insult in a brutal place. But they became part of God’s protection, keeping guards away and opening a door for ministry.
Sometimes the very things you would never choose become the things God uses to shield, shape, or position you.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
You might not see the full “why” on this side of eternity. But the ten Booms’ story reminds you: God is at work in ways you cannot yet see.
Reflect:
Can you think of a “flea season” in your life—a time that felt miserable—but later you saw God’s fingerprints in it?
3. Gratitude and courage grow together
Corrie and Betsie didn’t just suffer; they stood with the Jewish people, at great personal cost. Their gratitude didn’t make them passive. It gave them courage.
In their day, they were like Esthers—ordinary women who used their home, time, and lives to protect Jewish neighbors. Their thanksgiving was not shallow. It was rooted in a deep trust that God loved Israel and would keep His promises.
As a woman of faith today, you are invited into that same courage:
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To thank God for His faithfulness to Israel throughout history.
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To stand with the Jewish people in prayer, love, and advocacy.
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To let gratitude fuel your obedience—rather than fear or anger.
Reflect:
How might God be calling you, as a modern-day Esther, to quietly stand with Israel and the Jewish people this Thanksgiving?
4. Remembering is an act of love
Over and over, God calls Israel to remember: remember His rescue, His covenant, His mercy.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
When you remember God’s faithfulness—to Israel and to you—you are not just being “polite” at Thanksgiving. You are worshiping. You are aligning your heart with the God who keeps His promises through every wilderness, war, and wandering.
Reflect:
What specific acts of God’s faithfulness—to Israel and to your own family—can you name around your table this year?
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Lord, thank You for the courage and faith of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom.
Thank You for Your everlasting love for Israel and Your faithfulness in my life.
Teach me to give thanks in all circumstances, even when I do not understand.
Open my eyes to see Your hidden protection and Your quiet work.
Make me a modern-day Esther—grateful, courageous, and willing to stand with the Jewish people “for such a time as this.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
