When Bones Begin to Breathe Again
Pastor, have you ever stood in the middle of a valley?
Not a literal one, but a spiritual one — a place where your prayers echo back to you unanswered, where the people you once led with joy now feel disengaged, where the flame that once burned so bright flickers in the winds of discouragement?
You’re not alone.
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet is carried by the Spirit right into the middle of a place that should have been avoided — a valley of very dry bones. These bones weren’t just dead; they were scattered, sun-bleached, and hopeless. Yet, right there — not on a mountaintop, not in a palace, not in a comfortable temple — God asks the question:
“Son of man, can these bones live?”
Where Hope Dies, Revival Begins
Revival does not begin in places that are full of life; it starts where hope has died.
It starts in valleys, in the hidden places where you’ve buried your disappointments. It starts in the rooms you lock inside your heart because it hurts too much to dream again.
God brought Ezekiel there on purpose. Maybe that’s where He has you now.
What if the dry places in your ministry are the soil where God wants to plant resurrection?
When Obedience Feels Ridiculous
God commands Ezekiel to do something absurd: “Prophesy to these bones…”
Picture it — a lone man standing knee-deep in bones, speaking life into what’s never listened before.
Sometimes, revival feels ridiculous. It requires faith that looks foolish. It requires obedience when it seems like your words are bouncing off tombstones.
Ezekiel obeyed: “So I prophesied as I was commanded.”
And as he did, the bones rattled and came together — bone to bone, sinews, flesh, skin. But even then, there was no breath.
Pastor, you can build programs, gather people, and structure your services perfectly — but without the breath of the Spirit, it’s still just a body lying still.
Revival Happens in Stages
Notice the sequence: bones gather, flesh appears, but no breath. Revival is not always instant fireworks. Sometimes it’s rattling first, then structure, then a long, desperate prayer: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”
Be patient with the process. Don’t despise the small sounds of rattling bones — they are the early signs of breath returning.
It’s About Intimacy, Not Just Impact
At the end of the vision, God says: “I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it.”
True revival is not about bigger crowds or louder services — it’s about knowing Him.
It’s about the dry bones standing as “an exceedingly great army” — not for their own fame, but to show the nations who God is.
Pastor, Draw the Circle
Gypsy Smith, the old revivalist, once said, “If you want revival, draw a circle around yourself and pray, ‘Lord, revive everything inside this circle.’”
Revival starts there — in your study, in your prayers, in your hidden wrestling with God. Before you speak to the bones in your church, let Him breathe life into the dry places in you.
Your Valley Is Not the End
Maybe you feel like you’re standing in a valley today — wondering if your best days are behind you.
Maybe you’ve buried some dreams and accepted that this is just the way things will always be.
But your valley is not your graveyard. It is the stage for resurrection.
God is still asking: “Can these bones live?”
And He is still breathing life into things that look beyond saving.
Pastor, speak to the bones. Pray for the breath. Stand your ground in the valley — and watch what happens when bones begin to breathe again.
My Prayer for you...
Lord, breathe upon every weary pastor reading this. Breathe upon their dreams, their church, their vision, and their hidden places of pain. May the valleys become places of testimony. May the sound of rattling bones become the sound of revival. And may Your Spirit fill every dry place once more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor if you are feeling stretched, discouraged, or just in need of a little guidance, we want you to know—you don’t have to do this alone. At Small Church Guys, we exist to help pastors and churches stay in the game and lead in a healthy, sustainable way. Whether you need a listening ear, practical resources, or leadership support, we’re here for you. Call or message us anytime—we’d be honored to walk alongside you.
Comments
Post a Comment