Micah 7:8
Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
One of my favorite lyrics is in a newer Needtobreath song called “Who Am I”. My kids know the specific line by heart after hearing me blurt it out at random times almost daily. While reflecting on God’s love for him in the light of his tribulations, the singer cries out, “You grow your roses on my barren soul.” When looking out across what can be a very barren landscape without and within, it is important to know this truth: God can bring dead things to life. As we look to the scriptures, may we find hope that He can grow the fruits of the Spirit right where we are, even if the circumstances do not appear to sustain life.
First, we look to Ezekiel 37 and the Valley of Dry Bones. Led by the Spirit, God brings Ezekiel to the middle of a valley filled with dry bones. He then leads Ezekiel back and forth over these very dry bones to ensure Ezekiel does not see a glimmer of life. Then the Lord asks Him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel replies, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” The Lord then asks the prophet to speak to the bones on His behalf and to tell them that the Lord will now make breath come into them and life. Ezekiel obeys the Lord and then watches as the bones, then tendons, then flesh come together. Then last, the breath of God enters in, and the army of dead dry bones becomes alive. Brothers and sisters, I pray that our faith in the hearing of His word grows so that from this day forward if the Lord asked us, “Can these bones live?” we would answer, “Yes, Lord, you can bring dead things to life.”
Second, we look to Job 19 as we read of a man who has been broken down on every side and whose hope has been pulled up like a tree. While facing imminent death Job rejoices,
"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another." Job 19:25-27
Dear friends, if Job found hope in his Redeemer in these circumstances, we can find hope in ours as well. May we be honest about the reality of our circumstances: We serve a living God who brings dead things to life!
Third, we look to 2 Corinthians 4. There is surpassing power, power greater than that of death, that belongs to God. He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. May we not lose heart though our outer self is wasting away because our inner self can be renewed day by day. For the light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. God can grow roses on our barren souls.
To the lonely, the sick, the poor, the hopeless, the restless, the joyless, the dying...for whatever is dead in you, we have Jesus. He can connect us to streams of living water even in the desert, producing the fruits of His Spirit. Seek the Lord. God can bring dead things to life. May we share this testimony in truth and love.
—Roger Garrison
*Please be advised that this blog represents the views, opinions and beliefs of the writer and does not necessarily reflect those of our church leadership or denominational affiliation.