Thankful For Fleas

Read

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Think

In The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom recounts the unimaginable hardship of life inside a Nazi concentration camp. She and her sister Betsie, imprisoned for sheltering Jewish refugees, were subjected to brutal conditions in a cramped, flea-infested barracks. The fleas made the already unbearable environment even worse, and Corrie was understandably disgusted. But Betsie, with her unwavering trust in God, encouraged Corrie to do something unexpected: give thanks for everything around them, including the fleas. Corrie resisted, thinking it was absurd to thank God for something so miserable, yet Betsie reminded her of God’s call to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Reluctantly, Corrie joined her sister in prayer, giving thanks for their situation – fleas and all. As the days went by, they noticed something unusual—the guards never entered their barracks. It was strange, as guards were known for monitoring the prisoners constantly. But within this unguarded space, Corrie and Betsie found the freedom to read their smuggled Bible, hold prayer meetings, and offer words of comfort and hope to the other women. Over time, they discovered that the reason for this rare privacy was, in fact, the fleas. The guards refused to step inside due to the infestation. What Corrie had initially seen as a curse had become an unexpected blessing, allowing them to minister freely in the most restricted of places.

Corrie’s experience challenges us to consider our own “fleas”—the situations, annoyances, or even hardships we can’t understand or wish away. Thanksgiving, in this light, is an act of faith. It’s choosing to believe that God can bring purpose and even goodness from the things we’d never choose for ourselves. When we give thanks in all things, as Betsie did, we open ourselves to see how God might be working behind the scenes, even in the messiest, most frustrating parts of our lives.

Today, let’s take inspiration from Corrie and Betsie’s story. Instead of focusing on what’s uncomfortable or confusing, let’s try to thank God for the very things we don’t understand. Like Corrie, we may eventually see how God uses these “fleas” to bring freedom, hope, and even joy into places we never expected. Thanksgiving can transform our perspective, revealing God’s presence and purpose in ways that only faith—and a thankful heart—can uncover.

Apply

Give thanks for one “unexpected” thing each day—something you might not usually be grateful for. This could be a difficult task, an inconvenience, or even a challenging relationship. Ask God to show how he may use it for your good.

Pray

God, thank you for your presence in every part of my life, even in the hard and uncomfortable places. Help me to see your purpose, even when I don’t understand, and give me the strength to be grateful in all circumstances. Open my eyes to how you’re working and let my heart trust in your goodness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.