We have become old, dry bones –
all hope is gone.
Ezekiel 37:11 (NLT)
Have you ever seen a pile of dry bones? It may be a dog’s dream, but it really isn’t mine. Dry bones usually imply death, a lack of life, and a loss of being. It also indicates the condition has existed for some time.
When God spoke to Ezekiel in a vision, He showed him a valley filled with dry bones (Ezekiel 37). I can picture Ezekiel scratching his head, wondering why the Lord wanted him to see these signs of death and destruction. But God’s message for Ezekiel was mind-blowing; He wanted to demonstrate that He could bring those dry bones back together, place flesh upon them, and breathe life back into what was long-dead; God’s promise of complete and utter restoration.
When it comes to our own lives, circumstances may lead us to believe all hope is gone. The devil seizes this opportunity to whisper defeat in our ears. Your child’s prognosis? Hopeless. Your finances? Hopeless. Prospects for the future? Hopeless.
Yet God specializes in ‘hopeless’ situations. When we reach the end of our resources and all seems lost, that’s precisely when He steps into the midst of our trouble and breathes hope and life back into our lives.
Experiencing a season of dryness in your life? Are you weary, tired, and in need of some revitalizing, life-giving water? Your valley is just that; a valley. In due time, God will breathe new life into what appeared dead and restore hope to what seemed hopeless.
Thought: “It is only when I am not afraid to recognize my own brokenness… that the broken bones may begin to heal, and to rejoice.” – Madeleine L’Engle
For further reading:
- Psalm 63:1
- Psalm 107:35
- Isaiah 55:1
- John 7:37-39