Corona Devo 42

Is anyone else feeling scattered and completely dried out?

Life doesn't look like it used to.  It doesn't feel like it used to.  And I have no clue when any semblance of my old routine will reconnect me to my previous activities, norms, people and pleasures.  I am scattered.

And "completely dried out" fits too.  Perhaps I used to be somehow energized by the frantic pace of pre-Corona life.  It was hectic, but I liked the crazy.  And while I have also learned to appreciate the slower/hermit atmosphere of the Corona quarantine: even with open slots for naps and family four-square games in the evenings-- I am still feeling a dryness.  A loneliness for inward satisfaction in all of it, and an outward desire for the breath to come back into our lives.

Even as our hearts ache for direction and revitalization: God speaks words of promise into our today and tomorrow in Ezekiel Chapter 1.  

Ezekiel was a prophet that would talk to people about God's ways.  And just as Ezekiel's words were a timely message for the Israelites then, they are also a timely message for us today: God is at work.  He can connect our scattered minds/thoughts/hearts/souls--to Him.  He can pump life back into our moments of hopelessness and days of despair.  He can breathe life back into us!

As you read these verses--place yourself into the text as the dry, scattered bones.  Don't miss that God reconnects them, brings life and breathes life into the dry bones (us!).  

And then that God promises that we will "rise again" (Ezekiel 1:12).  We will not stay indoors and separated forever.  We are going through a process for our health and safety (and our spiritual growth!), and the Lord promises life--both right now, and as we journey back toward reuniting with public events and groups.

God lifts our hearts and smiles daily if we allow Him to.  "I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again" (Ezekiel 1:14).  I am ready to start living again, Lord!

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The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”  ~Ezekiel 37:1-14

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Wow!  What a story!  

Ezekiel actually watched this happen in front of him in that valley.  But today, this is a picture of us right now.  

God knows me.  He knows you.  He knows that we are saying, "We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished." (Ezekiel 1:12).

But everything that happens in this Biblical account is also a Corona metaphor for us.  God says to us, "I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!...Then you will know that I am the Lord." ~Ezekiel 1:5-6

Let's apply this to ourselves, and believe it!  That God can reconnect and breathe life back into our scattered and dry bones (lives).  Don't give up, and don't lose hope.  God's purpose is to give us hope, especially when we are dry and scattered.  Hang on and hang in there.  

He has a plan for each of us, and He is speaking life into us!  

On down the line, we will see how the pieces all connect, but for today, let's have faith and know that (He is) the Lord.  ~Ezekiel 1:6

Blessings,

sarah