Can These Bones Live?

The silence was crushing. There was not a whisper of wind nor a rustle of life. Ahead, behind, and beside laid bones, brittle, scattered, sun-bleached, and abandoned. There Ezekiel stood, the ground seemingly haunted by echoes of life, his gaze sweeping over the long-forgotten remains.

But God.

God’s voice broke the stillness.

“Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:3 ESV)

Life from death. Is it possible?

This is the place where God begins, not in lush gardens or mountain peaks, but in graveyards. In the forgotten, dried-up places that we’ve given up on. In the dreams we’ve lost, when our faith feels broken, when our hopes have grown cold. We are very familiar with this valley. We’ve stood amongst the bones in our own lives.

God’s question cuts through our flesh, straight to the bone. Can these bones live?

If you’ve ever stared at the dry places of your heart, wondered if life could possibly spring from the ruins, this is for you.

The Truth About Dry Bones

These dry bones are more than a metaphor. Instead, they are silent testaments to what once was, yet they seem too far gone for recovery. The bones represent dreams given up on, relationships that have faded from our lives, and faith that just feels empty.

But God.

God doesn’t lead Ezekiel into the valley in order to despair, He leads him there to prophesy. To speak LIFE. Because where we see death and despair, God see potential and rebirth. Where we see something coming to an end, God sees only a beginning.

Speaking Life Where There is None

“Prophesy over these bones,” (Ezekiel 37:4 ESV) God commands. Ezekiel is told to speak over what appears hopeless. We are to declare what HE says, not what our eyes see.

Maybe your valley looks like a failed marriage, a strained relationship with your child, or a calling you feel has dried up. But what is the same Spirit that breathed life into that valley is waiting to breathe life back into you.

Don’t just stand there in silence, Speak. Speak boldly. Speak with confidence. And watch God bring life back to your dry places.

My Own Valley

I’ve had many valleys enter my life. Many ups and downs. As one that suffers from depression and anxiety on top of my ADHD, I’ve seen many valleys of dry bones during my short lifetime. I’ve had moments of desperation, but it was during the lowest of lows that I’ve ever experienced when I finally fully reached out to the Lord. I was about a year postpartum from having our twins, children number four and five for us, and my husband was working on the road as a regional delivery driver when my depression hit me full force in the face with a cast-iron pan. I was exhausted. I was sad. I was not finding any joy in my life to keep me going. I couldn’t fathom continuing to live my life any longer. The only thing that kept me alive were my children. This day I had been crying, and I was trying to clean while caring for the kids on my own again. I was cleaning in my bathroom, sobbing, and I just fell to the floor and begged. I begged God to help me. I reached out to Him. I knew that if He willed it, He could heal me. I also knew that if He willed it, He’d keep me where I was. I cried out to Him, pleading to find some joy, some purpose, some zest for life again. I knew I couldn’t keep going as I was without His help any longer.

Friends, only God.

It took time, patience, and a lot of prayer but eventually I was able to get the help I needed through doctors and medication, and with the help of God I was able to slowly change my way of thinking to a more positive mindset. One where I regularly reach out to God. One where I filter everything I do and say through God. Slowly my joy began to build. Slowly my zest for life returned.

Only God could have allowed my shift from desperation to feelings of hope and contentment. He breathed life back into these dry bones. When I was ready to stop living God brought me back to life.

Living Breath

Resurrection isn’t just for Jesus and the end of days. It’s for the here and now. The Spirit of God can raise the dead places in you, too. It’s not over. Not even a little bit.

If you’re staring at dry bones today, seeing those dry desolate places in your own life, I dare you to ask with me:

Can these bones live?

And when God says “Prophesy,” don’t whisper. Be loud. Shout. Be heard. Speak with fire.

Let’s Breathe Together

Share this post with someone who needs resurrection in their valley. And tell me, what dry bones are you asking God to breathe on?

Stay close, there’s more to come.

Shay S.