Thank God for the Fleas

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” — Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Let’s be honest. We all complain about our lives from time to time. When circumstances become difficult, gratitude can feel like the last thing on our minds.

But what if the very thing we complain about is something God can use for good?

Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, had every reason to complain. During World War II, the sisters were imprisoned at Ravensbrück, a Nazi concentration camp for women. Their crime was hiding Jews in their home during the Nazi occupation of Holland.

The conditions were horrific. Food was scarce, sanitation was poor, and prisoners endured exhausting labor and overcrowded sleeping quarters. Their barracks were also infested with fleas.

Yet Betsie found a reason to give thanks.

The sisters had smuggled a Bible into the camp, and they began reading it aloud to other prisoners. As more women joined them, their barracks became a place where they could worship, pray, and hear the hope of the gospel.

Why didn’t the guards stop them? According to Corrie’s account, the guards avoided their barracks because of the fleas.

Betsie had thanked God even for those fleas, trusting that He could use something miserable for a greater purpose.

Think about that. The fleas didn’t make their suffering good, but God used an unpleasant circumstance to create an opportunity for ministry and encouragement.

Romans 8:28 reminds us that God is at work even in situations we cannot understand. This doesn’t mean everything that happens is good or that we won’t experience pain. It means God can work through even our hardest circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

A painful relationship, an unexpected disappointment, or a season of uncertainty may seem to have no purpose. But we can trust that our circumstances do not limit God’s ability to work.

What if, instead of asking only, “God, why is this happening to me?” we also asked, “God, how can You use this?”

This Thanksgiving, look beyond the circumstances you wish you could change. Ask God to help you recognize His presence, trust His wisdom, and remain open to the ways He might work through your difficulties.

You may not be able to thank God for everything that happens, but you can thank Him for being with you in every circumstance.

Today’s Challenge: Identify one frustrating or difficult situation in your life. Ask God to show you how He might use it to strengthen your faith, deepen your compassion, or encourage someone else. Then thank Him for being at work, even when you cannot yet see the outcome.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me trust You when life is difficult and my circumstances make little sense. Give me eyes to see how You might bring good from what I would never have chosen. Teach me to trust Your purposes and remember that You are faithful even when I cannot see what You are doing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Quote to Remember

“Thank God for the fleas and the guards.” — Corrie ten Boom