Prayers for revival in areas thought dead
Author: Heidi Vegh
Bible reading:
“Prophesy to these bones, saying, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, you dry bones!…I will put my breath into you, and you will come to life.'” – Ezekiel 37:4-6
Listen or read below:
I thought my life was over.
Died. Gone. Never go back.
When my husband died of cancer at age 33, I had no idea how life would go on. The future we dreamed of together, the vision we shared, the trips we planned, the dream home we hoped for, are all gone. It was erased with the last breath.
I walked out of that bleak hospital room, putting one foot in front of the other. I didn’t know how I would walk another million steps without him. I was forced to start again. From zero.
Ezekiel wrote this verse while living in exile around 600 BC. Jerusalem had been destroyed. Israel was conquered. The shrine is gone. People felt spiritually dead, defeated, and scattered.
“Our bones are dry, and our hope is lost and cut off.” – Ezekiel 37:11
During that dark season, God gave Ezekiel a vision of a valley filled with dry bones. It hasn’t died recently, but it’s very dry. It’s been a while.
God asked him, “Can these bones live?”
Ezekiel answered wisely. “Lord, you alone know.” (v.3)
The real question underneath the vision is:
Do we believe that God can bring the dead back to life?
God promised Ezekiel that he would restore what was lost.
“These bones are the whole house of Israel…I will open your grave and bring you up from it…I will put My Spirit within you, and you will live” (vv. 11–14).
There are times in life when we are so dark that we wonder if the light will ever return. Sometimes we find ourselves in a valley that feels like it lasts forever. It’s hopeless.
But God is in charge of the work of restoration.
After the loss, I began to feel my life slowly starting to take shape again. A small piece of hope has returned. I noticed a light shining through it. I felt a faint but steady glow of what my new life would be like.
God has gathered up the broken pieces and revived the hope that once felt buried.
He can do that for you too.
When we let go of loss, pain, and despair, we make room for God to rebuild.
When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples were devastated. I was confused. If Jesus was truly the Son of God, why did they watch his lifeless body take its last breath and be buried in a tomb? A stone fell into the entrance. It seemed final.
That’s what deep disappointment feels like. Just like a stone sealed forever what we loved.
But three days later, the resurrection came.
Just as Jesus rose from the grave, God can breathe life into parts of our lives that feel buried. No matter how devastating the loss, you will feel your dry bones tremble as you seek God in the midst of disappointment and pain.
“After you have suffered a little while, God himself will restore you and make you strong, steadfast, and steadfast.” – 1 Peter 5:10
Resurrection is still something God does.
Let’s pray:
Lord, there are parts of my life that feel dead. I carry the pain of something I may never get back. I live with moments of regret, disappointment, and despair. I wish some things had been different. Things didn’t turn out the way I had imagined, and it’s hard to reconcile the dreams I once had with my current life.
But Lord, I don’t want to live in despair. I don’t want lost dreams to take away the joy of my days. I want to see your hands even when it’s painful. I want to believe that you can rebuild what was lost. Help me to see my struggles through the lens of Your goodness and hope.
I believe that I can bring the dead back to life. I believe that the same God who raised Jesus from the grave will also resurrect places in my life that feel buried. I want to live with hope, with faith, and with the belief that there is no end to hardship.
You did not create us for a comfortable life, but for a life that reflects Your goodness, even in difficult times. I believe that You will work everything together for the good of those who love You. Please help me see the good in it. If change is slow and recovery feels far away, give yourself patience.
Teach me to surrender instead of controlling. Help me to continue to bring everything to you through prayer. And most of all, Lord, as you restore me, help me encourage others to live like Christ.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving me through all my hardships. Thank you for my salvation.
In your precious name we pray, amen.
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Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Arthit Longwilai
Heidi Vegg is an author, speaker, and ministry leader based in Western Washington. The remarried mother of four has lived a blended family life since losing her first husband to cancer in 2013. Through her writing and speaking, Heidi encourages those who have experienced loss, offering hope and practical guidance on the journey to healing and a new life.
She is the author of The Hard Journey to the Good: A Widow’s Journey from Loss to New Life, a heartfelt account of grief, faith, and rebuilding after devastating loss, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
You can find Heidi on her website mrsheidivegh.com. There, we share devotions and reflections on grief, healing, motherhood, faith, and the beauty and complexity of blended family life through a monthly newsletter. She holds degrees in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University, is a mission director at a local church, and is passionate about helping women grow in their faith and experience the transformative love of Jesus.
You can find her on Instagram @mrsheidivegh and SubStack: https://substack.com/@heidivegh.
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