The Great Restrainer Is Working With You
Stories of life behind the Iron Curtain and the occupation which preceded it.
Having just returned from Eastern Europe my husband and I were offered a very different travel experience meeting people who remembered life on the other side of the war and the evil communist regime which followed.
Wondering into a local store in Prague I learned a fascinating story. Meeting the owner and hearing that he was 12th generation and was 9 years old when communism took over Prague I asked “did you ever get to go to church?”. He explained that under communism religion was forbidden but he had an uncle who was a minister. In a back room of his shop they held secret meetings where they would teach people about God. When the Soviets blocked his access to gold and silver destroying his business. One day miraculously he discovered a mine on his property and was able to continue to make jewelry and stay in business. His product was a combination of brass, rhodium and 18 karat gold.
In the 90’s a woman came into his shop wearing a large hat. She stated that the quality of his jewelry was the highest of any she had seen. She was the wife of the owner of MGM and helped open the door for this jewelry to be sold in America. Today it is the gold used in Rolex watches.
I asked if I could speak a blessing over him and he quickly bowed his head and stretched out his hands. I felt in that moment that the Lord desired to open a door in the spirit honoring the faithfulness of that family.
At the end of communism in the Czech Republic there was a large public demonstration on park grounds where residents gathered and shook their keys loudly into the air. This gesture represented the statement: “go and leave your keys in the door”. After this point in time the new government searched out original owners or their extended family and returned all property. Those living in government housing were given the opportunity to purchase their apartments for an extraordinary price. Our tour guide explained that she purchased her 3 bedroom apartment for five thousand dollars.
A frequent phrase used during communism was: “we pretend to work and the government pretends to pay us”.
We were told that the shelves were never completely empty in grocery stores and that while they could not find what they wanted, access to food continued.
They were never told of the American involvement in their liberation at the conclusion of WWII, only of the Russian effort. It was not until 1990 that the history books were rewritten to include the true role played by the United States to liberate the Czech Republic.
During communism, plain, simple buildings were erected and everything was painted grey. After communism everything was repainted in colorful pastels.
The following day we walked the grounds of a Jewish ghetto and concentration camp called Terezín.
The fort surrounding the concentration camp was built in 1790 by Marie Antoinette’s brother. It was built in honor of Maria Theresa, who ruled Hapsburg for 40 years and had 16 children one of whom was Marie Antoinette.
A Jewish ghetto was set up here and in other German controlled cities in order to gather the Jewish community in one place. Today it is a beautiful town with a museum and multiple monuments. The museum walls are covered with original drawings from the precious children who lived there. One young girl in particular was highlighted. Her name was Helga Weiss.
Helga as a child waited there for 3 years after her family was taken to a concentration camp, which was extremely unusual. She kept a journal during that time and it is now published. During the course of the war she was sent to 4 different concentration camps. From this one location there were 10,500 children taken and only 245 survived. Miraculously she was one of them.
Please take a moment to pray for Helga Weiss. She will be 97 in November!
During the war the Swiss sent a Red Cross delegation into the ghetto. The Germans made a propaganda video about life in the ghetto which was to be disseminated to the world in order to give the appearance that everyone there was happy. The video was of a staged soccer game where players were surrounded by “happy” fans. The delegation interviewed people in the ghetto and they were scripted to say “ I am happy I am not missing anything.” Fearing for their lives everyone pretended. One week later all who made contact with the Swiss delegation were sent to a concentration camp.
Among those also imprisoned in this camp were Catholic priests, those who listened to banned radio, did not comply, would not work or helped the Jewish people.
This camp was a temporary stop before being sent to Auschwitz, an annihilation camp.
Walking under a brick archway leading to the grounds where the prisoners were kept I took a photo of the German words written “aren’t macht frei” it translates to “Work makes you free”.
Jewish prisoners were separated from the rest.
Entering the small Jewish cell which held up to 60 prisoners, I touched the wall and began to pray. Looking up to the Lord, seeking to connect with the prayers released in that room I was surprised to feel hope. God had met His people there.
This was one of two very intense concentration camp experiences we had during our visit to Eastern Europe. During the second visit the Lord graciously gave me the unique opportunity to first minister to a Jewish woman and then to a German man both equally overwhelmed by the gravity of the spiritual atmosphere.
As you digest this post, understand that God has sent you in this day and time to save, heal and deliver. Look around and watch for opportunities to help.
“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”
II Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV
This morning I called on the Lord recognizing Holy Spirit as the Great Restrainer who partners with each of us in this hour as we release the goodness of God to those all around us.
The warfare has been intense and almost overwhelming this month but God’s sovereign hands have been busily moving in the background working out His plans for your life. Do not be surprised if evil is forced to confess its agenda publicly giving people the opportunity to escape!