It’s hard to keep going when from our perspective things seem hopeless. We’ve already lost so much it’s difficult to imagine things could ever be good again. But by faith, we remember God is still able to breathe new life into dry bones again. Certainly, it’s natural to want to give up after we’ve been trying and waiting for so long. It seems best just to accept the reality of dry bones on its own terms.
For instance, perhaps after working hard to make our unique contribution in the world we keep running into many roadblocks and closed doors. Despite our best efforts, our seed seems to keep falling into infertile ground.
Or maybe we’ve worked hard to find our people and cultivate meaningful relationships with others. And regardless of how much we’ve given of ourselves, our relationships still leave a lot to be desired. And it seems we’re the only ones who want more.
Likewise, we might train our kids up as best we can but remain heartbroken when they consistently make choices against God’s best for them. It seems like all our words and desperate pleas are falling onto deaf ears.
To be sure, this list can go on and on – from chronic medical conditions and social unrest, to financial hardships and the many internal battles we have with ourselves. In many different shapes, forms, and fashions, the situations before us often seem hopeless and lost. But as God reminded Ezekiel, he’s able to make dry bones live again – to breathe his breath of life into dead situations.
This is not to suggest God will answer our prayers on our timeline or packaged in the way we would expect. But it does remind us to live in hope regardless of how hopeless the situation seems from our perspective.
Cry and weep when facing your valley of dry bones. And remember to anchor your hope in God who is still able to bring the dead to life again.
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