The world feels heavy these days. The headlines are noisy. Politics are divisive. It can be hard to find hope when fear and anger seem to dominate the landscape. But history reminds us that God’s Spirit has never stopped producing fruit even in the most barren times.
One woman who lived this truth was Corrie Ten Boom. During World War II, she and her family hid Jews in their Dutch home. They risked everything out of obedience to Christ. When discovered, Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, a place of unimaginable cruelty. Yet even there, the light of the Holy Spirit shone through Corrie’s life.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
– Galatians 5:22–23
- Love: She risked her life for strangers, showing Christ’s love in action.
- Joy: She rejoiced over a smuggled Bible and sang hymns in secret, finding joy where none seemed possible.
- Peace: In the face of terror, she clung to God’s promises and became a calm presence for others.
- Patience: She endured long days of hunger and suffering with steadfast trust.
- Kindness: She extended compassion to fellow prisoners, even when she had nothing to give.
- Goodness: She chose what was right, even when it was costly.
- Faithfulness: Her trust in Christ held firm through persecution.
- Gentleness: She cared for the wounded and brokenhearted, reflecting Christ’s tenderness.
- Self-control: After the war, she chose forgiveness over bitterness even toward her captors.
In times like these, when division seems louder than unity, it’s easy to wonder if anything good can take root. Yet Corrie Ten Boom’s life reminds us that the Spirit’s fruit is not limited by the landscape. It often grows brightest in dark soil.
Her life is proof that the Spirit’s work is stronger than the world’s brokenness. If fruit bloom in a concentration camp, it can bloom in today’s troubled times too.
The call for us might not be to get swept up in the world’s chaos. Instead, it is to quietly and faithfully let the Spirit tend our hearts. To bear love where there is hate. Joy where there is despair. Peace where there is unrest.
“Lord, help us to live as Corrie did, with courage, forgiveness, and hope. Cultivate the fruits of Your Spirit within us. In the chaos of today’s world, that others will taste and see that You are good.”
As I write, the sky outside feels unsettled – clouds moving quickly, the air heavy with change. Maybe you’ve felt that way too, watching today’s world unfold. Here on the porch, a cup of tea warms my hands. The birds start their evening song. I am reminded that God still tends His garden. The Spirit is still at work.
May we be like small trees planted by living water, steady and fruitful, no matter what storms rage around us. 🌿🍃
The Prayer Porch 