The Nationwide insurance agency has a catchy slogan -- "Life Comes at You Fast," which has been the center of a number of commercials recently. As of late, I've noticed that this phrase seems to reflect my feelings towards life quite accurately. In fact, on most days it feels like there aren't enough hours to finish my "to-do" items! Through unsolicited feedback, I've grown to discover that I'm not the only one that feels that time exceeding the speed limit.
We live in a society that is highly demanding; where hard work and hustle are common place across age, race and gender. Our society has also planted a general idea that busyness equates to successfulness. Consequently, for many, their dreams have been lost under the pile of debris caused by an attempt to fulfill this creed. If the busyness and hustle of life haven't caused this, then maybe unexpected circumstances have. But, however grim things may appear, under the rubble are attainable dreams waiting to be revived and resurrected.
In the context of Ezekiel 37:1 - 14, the prophet Ezekiel found himself standing in a valley filled with dry bones. I can only imagine how eerie it must have felt being surrounded by what appeared to be death. As the story of "The Valley of Dry Bones" reveals, Ezekiel followed God's command by prophesying that the bones would be restored with tendons, flesh and skin. Through a separate act of obedience, he also restored "breath" and resurrected bodies that once possessed the "dry bones." Scripture then records that the bodies stood up on their feet as a vast army.
This account, brought to us through the prophet Ezekiel, has some invaluable lessons. Similar to Ezekiel, we too can have "valley" experiences.......times when it feels as if all of our efforts in life have been done in vain and that our dreams have dismally diminished, seeking to rise no more. Often, it is during these times that feelings of depression and discouragement can also seek to poison our thinking and crucify our hope. However, just like Ezekiel, during these times of "death," we too can speak life in the midst of the "valley." We too can exercise our Godly authority and prophesy that virtue will return to our dreams (dry bones)! We too can speak that the "winds" will shift and that divine breath will be restored to our seemingly lifeless aspirations!
The truth of that matter is, the storms of this life can only have victory over us and our dreams if we allow them to! The power of life and death dwells in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and life can be spoken today! To the destitute dreamer(s), I say............things might be DRY, but they're certainly not DEAD!
Yours Truly,
Oliver C. Johnson III
