20 Powerful Quotes from Corrie ten Boom

Debbie McDaniel

iBelieve Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 16, 2017
20 Powerful Quotes from Corrie ten Boom
Corrie ten Boom was one of the most godly, soul-rich individuals in Christian history. The ten Boom family were Dutch Christians who helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust of WWII. When their home was raided after an informant tipped off the Nazis of their activities, the entire family was imprisoned. Corrie and her sister were sent to a notorious Nazi concentration camp. She was miraculously released from prison just days after her sister had died there. God brought incredible beauty and healing through her difficult experiences, and her words still have great relevance and impact in our world today.
1. Christ is all you need.

1. Christ is all you need.

"You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have." -Corrie ten Boom

2. Love is the strongest force in the world.

2. Love is the strongest force in the world.

Do you know what hurts so very much? It's love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.” -Corrie ten Boom

3. Memories are the key to the future.

3. Memories are the key to the future.

Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work he will give us to do.” -Corrie ten Boom

4. God knows our needs.

4. God knows our needs.

And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things too. Don't run out ahead of him.” -Corrie ten Boom

5. Love is larger.

5. Love is larger.

"Love is larger than the walls which shut it in." -Corrie ten Boom

6. Love your enemies.

6. Love your enemies.

Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.” -Corrie ten Boom

7. The devil cannot make us bad.

7. The devil cannot make us bad.

If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” -Corrie ten Boom

8. Let go.

8. Let go.

You will find it is necessary to let things go, simply for the reason that they are too heavy.” -Corrie ten Boom

9. Your Father will carry it.

9. Your Father will carry it.

Some knowledge is too heavy...you cannot bear it...your Father will carry it until you are able.” -Corrie ten Boom

10. Report for duty.

10. Report for duty.

Don’t bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.” -Corrie ten Boom

11. God takes our sins.

11. God takes our sins.

God takes our sins – the past, present, and future, and dumps them in the sea and puts up a sign that says NO FISHING ALLOWED.” -Corrie ten Boom

12. Hold everything lightly.

12. Hold everything lightly.

Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” -Corrie ten Boom

13. Forgiveness is an act of the will.

13. Forgiveness is an act of the will.

Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.” -Corrie ten Boom

14. Happiness does not depend on our surroundings.

14. Happiness does not depend on our surroundings.

Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings…it’s something we make inside ourselves.” -Corrie ten Boom

15. Is prayer your steering wheel?

15. Is prayer your steering wheel?

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” -Corrie ten Boom

16. God's truth shines.

16. God's truth shines.

In darkness God’s truth shines most clear.” -Corrie ten Boom

17. Prayer is necessary for the soul.

17. Prayer is necessary for the soul.

What wings are to a bird and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” -Corrie ten Boom

18. The very best is yet to be.

18. The very best is yet to be.

With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…” -Corrie ten Boom

19. Look at Christ and be at rest.

19. Look at Christ and be at rest.

If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” -Corrie ten Boom

20. God's ability is what counts.

20. God's ability is what counts.

It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability that counts.” -Corrie ten Boom

This slideshow was adapated from the article 40 Powerful Quotes from Corrie ten Boom written by Debbie McDaniel.

Originally published Tuesday, 13 September 2016.