Dry Bones

 “Thus, saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.” (Ezekiel 37:5)

God “carried Ezekiel out in the Spirit of the Lord” to a valley filled with dry, parched bones. The bones represented the spiritually dead condition of God’s people, Israel. Spiritually dead individuals, marriages, families, churches, and much more still fill valleys today.

Life is full of difficulties, twists, and turns. Even the best-prepared, well-trained soldier of the Lord becomes weary. Neglecting or refusing to admit you are vulnerable to weariness, that you are not an army of one of your own making, can be hazardous to your health. Not only could you face physical depletion but emotional and spiritual as well. When you ignore your spiritual well-being, you become God’s rebellious child. You may have already reached the place of inward dryness and emptiness, feeling less and less useful in the Lord’s work. It’s important to remember who you belong to when times of weariness, rebellion, dryness, and doubt happen.

God showed Ezekiel in a vision that by His Word and power, He could revitalize the valley of scattered bones: give them ligaments, muscle, cover them with skin, breathe life back into those bones, so they live once again. That’s what God wanted for His beloved Israel, who had rebelled and strayed from His care. One day after they repented, He would breathe life’s breath back into their dead-like dry lives. God revived bones in Ezekiel’s vision and can do the same in our lives, just as He did for Israel. Why would we doubt God’s ability to restore those who are weary, head-strong, broken, and spiritually dead—dry bones filling valleys?

God is always for us and with us. If life-battles left you feeling exhausted, crushed, or distant from your Creator, call out to Him in repentance; ask God to breathe fresh life back into your “dry bones.” Once He refreshes you, rise, and carry on in His strength as a good soldier of the Lord.