They Killed Her, But Not Her Hope
On August 4, 1944, a young Jewish girl who lived during the horrors of World War II, began a journey that would leave a legacy for years to come. Forced into hiding to escape the Nazis, Anne Frank and her family lived in a secret annex for two years. During this time, she wrote extensively about her experiences, thoughts, and dreams for the future. Despite the overwhelming fear and uncertainty, Anne’s writing reveals a profound sense of hope and faith in humanity. In one of her most famous writings, she wrote, “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.”
As Christians today in America, we may not be hiding in a secret annex awaiting capture from those seeking to kill us. But, if there is anything we can learn from the young girl who was, it’s that we should never lose hope. Peter wrote “Blessed be the God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV).
Hope is not merely a wish for something to happen. For example, the statement “I hope my team goes all the way this year” is not true hope, that’s a wish. Biblical hope is based on certainty. I have hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because I know He rose. I have hope in eternal life with Him in heaven because I know He is coming again. That’s why Paul said to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12 ESV). It is because of my hope in Jesus Christ that I can be patient in tribulation knowing that by remaining faithful, I will be with the Lord one day.
Unfortunately, the Nazi soldiers would find Anne and her family after hiding for so long. Anne’s life would end at the Bergen-Belson concentration camp in the early months of 1945 just weeks before the camp was liberated by American forces. But the hope found in her writings has lived on since then. Today, we must maintain a strong hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without hope, we will lose our faith. Without faith, we will lose our salvation. Without our salvation, we will lose our souls.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV).
