The Valley of Dry Bones
The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Ezekiel 37:1-2 NLT
In this Old Testament passage, God gives Ezekiel a vision of a large valley full of human bones. Interestingly, this is not an area of fresh war, but a desolate valley covered with bones “scattered everywhere.” The bones are brittle in nature, described as “completely dried out.” This is an area of isolation and hopelessness. Depressing to say the least.
Then God asked Ezekiel something seemingly impossible.
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Ezekiel 37:3 NLT
Sometimes in the chaos that is our lives, we come to a place where certain desires seem unobtainable, certain dreams unreachable, and certain plans just die. We let the passion we once had for these things not only fade, but depart from our thoughts completely. We count the chances of them happening damaged beyond repair. However, Jesus sees beyond our disappointments and our failures. He alone knows what the future possesses.
The valley of bones in Ezekiel’s day was a representation of the incredible despair Israel had fallen into as a nation. They could not see the brightness of the future because they were too busy looking at their current circumstances. They did not realize nothing is finished unless God deems it finished. Are there areas in your life that you have given up on, assumed they were over, or have you simply grown tired of waiting for something to turn around? Maybe it is a marriage, a job opportunity, a wayward child, or a financial situation. Allow Jesus to bring ‘life’ back to your situation.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
Jesus wants us to commit our hopes and dreams to Him. He wants to see us live life to the fullest, but that can only happen when we trust in His power, His plan, and His provision. Have you spoken to Him recently about the things in your life that are “completely dried up” or void of hope? If He speaks into your situation, restoration is imminent. There is nothing too hard for Jesus.
When our situation becomes desperate – only Jesus can ‘speak’ to our need, only Jesus can ‘revive’ the dream, and only Jesus can ‘resurrect’ our hope. Don’t stay in the valley of the bones. Rise up, so you can go to the mountain top and begin to dream again.
Blessings!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Well put but this is a hard sell to people who are currently in the valley. Easier for us who have been there and are now restored. After that, every subsequent battle becomes easier. Taking that first leap of faith is the big step.