A Conversation with God in a Concentration Camp.

I knew that as soon as I stepped foot into Sachsenhausen concentration camp that it was time to be quiet. It was time to reflect, pray and talk with God. Time to turn the phone off, take the iPod headphones out of my ears and step away from the hustle and bustle of people.

A few of my fellow classmates walked with me as we toured around the few buildings left standing within the concentration camp. We went through the infirmary and the barracks and the mess hall and a small museum of historical artifacts.. and finally we made our way over to a place called, Station Z.

The plaque in front of the building gave a detailed description of the execution process carried out at Station Z. I forced myself to read through it. To read through what tens of thousands of real life people that actually existed went through.

I do not say this lightly, it was absolutely life-changing.

So as left Station Z and stepped away from my friends, I began to walk alone along the gravel lanes of the vast complex and I asked that question that I find myself asking at my weaker moments. I asked God, “Why? Why would you let this happen? How could you stand back and do nothing? There were women, children and men that loved you here; that died for you here. How could you turn your back on them?”

God answered me like He always does. With much grace I heard Him say, “Even in the Concentration Camp, I AM.”
The Lord began to speak to me with that tender love of His. He began revealing to me something very important and suddenly flipped my questions on their heads.
What God said to me as I walked along with tears running down my face was that in spite of this atrocity, in spite of evil mankind, in spite of our sin, in spite of our turning our backs on Him, in spite of us doing nothing, in spite of it all, Christ died for the sins of the world. He tore down the wall of separation so that we may have relationship with our King-Father. Even though man fell and does evil, God said I am greater. My Good is greater than your evil. My Son will pay My impossible price. I will have what I will have. You’re disobedience is no match for my faithfulness. Glory is mine, Satan shall not triumph. I am Good.

After this gloriously beautiful moment with God I opened up my Bible app on my phone to see that the day’s daily reading was (very fittingly) Psalm 42. Verse 11 summarizes exactly my feelings for that day.

Why are you cast down O my soul
 and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
 my salvation and my God.

So don’t be cast down and begin to ask why, but rather set your eyes on the cross and give thanks for this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Us being the undeserved, and Christ taking what we deserve.
I cannot find the words for my gratitude. The Cross leaves me speechless, yet again. 

Thank You God for being Good. Thank you Jesus for dying and rising again so that I could be saved. Thank you Holy Spirit for empowering us in the day to day to do works even greater than Christ.
Thank You Lord for being with us, always.. even in the concentration camp.