Do you ever feel exhausted, empty, like you don't have a drop of life left in you? As if everything withered and hope was lost? Maybe you're in âdry bone valleyâ right now. But what if God wants to start something new here?
1. Reality: When our bones are really dry
It is not easy to admit that something is not working in our life. But the first step to transformation is honesty. In his vision (Ezekiel 37:11-14), the ancient biblical prophet Ezekiel saw a valley full of dried bonesâa symbol of complete death, exhaustion and the end. People have lost hope and given up.
Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you're out of energy, with the feeling that nothing will ever change. You have dreams, but they seem dead to you. You fight, but you don't have the strength anymore. Maybe you're thinking, âDoes it still have a chance? Can these bones come to life? â
This question isn't just rhetorical. It's a pivotal moment. In Ezekiel's vision and in our lives. God does not force us into false positivity. On the contrary, it invites us to the truth. Seeing reality, hard as it is, is the first step to change.
2. Grief: Accept the pain and not budge
In the valley of dry bones, Ezekiel does not try to fix everything right away. Nor does he avert his sight. He's in there. He accepts the gravity of the situation. And that's the second key step.
Today, we tend to run away from pain â to work, to entertainment, to the endless scrolling of social networks. But sadness is a normal and natural part of life. When we experience sadness, it means that we cared about something. If you're feeling empty, maybe it's a sign you need to slow down and allow yourself to really relive things.
God doesn't expect us to be strong all the time. He expects us to be real. The Psalmist wrote, âThe Lord is near to the hearts of the afflicted, and he will save the disheartened in spirit. â(PS 34,19). So if you're feeling broken and sad about your situation, you're not out of line. On the contrary, you are at a place where God can begin to manifest himself.â
3. Hope: God has the power to breathe new lifeâ
When Ezekiel stands in the valley of dry bones, God says to him, âProphesy concerning these bones, and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. âAnd that's where something incredible is starting to happen. The bones come together, covering themselves with tendons and flesh, but they're still lifeless. Only when God breathes in His Spirit will everything change.
Maybe there are things in your life that look like they're already dead today. The dreams you gave up. Relationships that have broken down. The energy you've run out of. But God says, âI will bring my Spirit into you so that you may come to life. â
God is not limited by the way things look. His Spirit has the power to bring back to life what you thought was lost.â
What can you do about it now?
âGod invites you to the process of transformation:
- âAdmit reality. What are your âdry bonesâ? What died in you?â
- Let yourself feel it all. What does this reality do to you? Pain, sadness, rage? Tell that to God.â
- Open yourself to the Spirit of God. Ask him to give you a new breath, a new strength, a new direction.
God is the one who gives a new beginning. Even if you think it's too late. Even if you feel like there's nothing left to save. He can revive the dead.
And today he wants to start with you.
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