Post by Amy Sullivan
Two years ago, I found myself sitting in my car, bad top forty music blared, my hands clenched the steering wheel, and my eyes fixated on a metal, jungle gym that sat in front of me.
Hanging out in my car proved somewhat problematic as twelve people were not-so patiently waiting for me to start a meeting, a meeting I was late for, a meeting for my job, a meeting which had nothing to do with me, but a meeting I needed to start.
If I trace my steps back and try to discover how I ended up in this paralyzed state of car sitting, the trail looks something like this: working a high stress job + making no time for God + having two close friends move away + creating no time for family + experiencing five deaths in three months + inability to sleep + hormones (um, ladies, let’s commit to talk more about how wonky our hormones make us as we age, shall we?).
This toxic mix of events left me feeling as if someone tossed a wet sleeping bag over my head. My world was dark and everything was wet, and I couldn’t see the sun.
That’s when one of my forever friends called. Forever friends have that intense something-is-not-quite-right radar.
Me: I have decided I will not get out of my car and go to work. Instead, I will sit here and listen to Katy Perry sing about a dark horse.
Forever Friend: Wrong. This is what you will do: take a deep breath, wipe your eyes, turn off the radio, and go to your meeting. This is what I will do: pray for you every day and every Tuesday, I will fast for you. I will do this until you see the sun.
As my friend’s words hit my ears, I actually wanted to turn off the radio and I did, and although, I didn’t want to go to my meeting, I wiped my face and I did. My world didn’t instantly turn brighter, but having someone pray for me when I lacked the strength to pray for myself helped.
We need people. We need the kind of people who steady us and see us through darkness.
We need people like Betsie ten Boom.
The Ten Boom Sisters
Do you know the Ten Boom sisters?
During World War II, sisters, Betsie and Corrie ten Boom (along with their elderly father) risked their lives to help underground workers and Jews escape Nazi soldiers. Although the Ten Booms served people in a variety of ways, the sisters are known for hiding people behind a fake wall in Corrie’s bedroom.

Man crawling into the Ten Booms’ hiding place
Many people know about the life of the Ten Booms because after Corrie was released from a concentration camp, she traveled the world sharing about God’s great love and forgiveness. What is often overlooked in the Ten Booms’ story is Betsie’s role.
See, it was Corrie’s sister, Betsie who prompted thanksgiving and praise in the darkest of times, and it was Betsie who prayed for Corrie when Corrie was unable to pray for herself. It was Betsie who held her sister up in a place full of evil, and it was Betsie who reminded Corrie though thousands were experiencing unimaginable pain, God was still present.
It was Betsie who made me thankful for forever friends who hold me up, and it was Betsie who reminded me I need to do the same for my friends too.
A Picture Book Series for Our Kids
I write picture books about strong Christian women who impacted the world, and I just released a book about the Ten Boom sisters.
It’s my desire for our kids to know the heroes who came before them, heroes who risked their lives for others, heroes who were obedient to God, and heroes who prayed for the sun to shine again.
Sisters, Corrie and Betsie ten Boom are heroes who do just that (and much more!).
Your Turn: Do you know the Ten Boom sisters? Do you have a friend or a sister who prays you through dark circumstances? Are you that friend to others?
Amy L. Sullivan doesn’t always feel brave, but her picture book series, Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women Who Impacted the World allows her to comb through history and steal wisdom from the great women who came before her. Amy is host of Gutsy Girls Read, an online book club for anyone interested in discovering and discussing books written for girls ages toddler to teen. Connect with Amy on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Enter the drawing to win a copy of Gutsy Girls: Sisters Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom [Email subscribers, click here and scroll to the end of the post to enter the drawing]: