I’ve learned when I am challenged with illness or a difficult situation, to ask God to come and reveal His truth. When understanding appears, the revelation is of course personal, but I have also found He may require us to live out an experience or become a prophetic picture/act for His people. Take Ezekiel, where historians remind us how he used pantomime, ate a scroll, and slapped parts of his body, to burn the message of God into the minds and hearts of the people.

In my book, “If I’m Healed By His Stripes, Then Why Do I Still Hurt?” I shared life experiences and revelation in certain situations I walked through - life lessons learned - including suggestions and insight for consideration. Maybe you have experienced this too. We are given opportunities, sometimes very challenging experiences to learn from and share, becoming a light of encouragement and guidance – lessons learned and shared for others to glean from giving them encouragement and hope.

Second Corinthians 1:3-5 declares: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Apostle Paul continues in verse 6-7: But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort.”

When you ask of Him, He share pieces of the puzzle that He highlights over time and will finally bring them together with a revelation for you as well as for others.

What is Your Truth Father?

I recently experienced one of these moments, certainly revealing personal insight, but also birthing a truth for the Body as well. During a brief vacation, I suddenly experienced excruciating pain in my back, resulting in a diagnosis of fractured vertebrae and osteoporosis. I’ve always taken care of my health so this came as a surprise and puzzlement. “Father, what do You want to reveal to me in this situation? What truth do you have for me?”

First Let’s Look in the Natural – What Does It Reveal?

Osteoporosis - a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D. Blood work revealed no nutrient deficiencies. Hmm, let’s search on.

Next, I began to seek in the spiritual definition and understanding, using the “A to Z Symbology Dictionary” by Dr. Barbie Breathitt. Bone – structure, main issue or the underlying substance of something; long lasting support or strength, taking something down to its bare bones, stripping, lack, in need of alignments and proper attachments and covering, famine, death or destruction is trying to hinder; prophesy breath and life as commanded (Exz. 37:1-10), a mighty army; resurrection power; 2 Kings 13:21, an inheritance is coming).

Highlighted in this definition, Ezekiel 37 became highlight jumping from the page and I saw a vision of the valley of dry bones with many saints still alive but exhausted, emaciated, weary from their personal battles and discouraged that their hours of prayer and service have not brought the fruit they hoped for. I could hear their whispers and prayers to God saying, “Father, I’m so tired of waiting; Are you even there?; Did I miss you?; Father, Help my unbelief – I’ve lost my way; Father, I don’t really care to be with the Body anymore; Was this all a dream; Where are you?”

Their experiences of loss, painful events and toxic environments now left them dried out making their bones brittle, disappointed, even bitter from serving in His Body while toxic people and situations drained life from them. Others felt they had lived one wilderness after another, pouring themselves out as a drink offering, waiting in surrender and repentance, but with little hope. I sensed within myself the exhaustion and lack of hope – hope deferred - as they tried to stir themselves up but now had little energy or desire for further relationship or service.

Father, What Do You Want to Say – What Is Your Truth?

I sensed heaven’s decree saying: “You whom I call my servants, who have grown weary in well doing – Hold on – don’t give up!” I am in the resurrection business – I am restoring - nourishing dry bones and breathing life into you again.” He is now declaring over you: “These bones shall live again! You shall live again!”

Let’s Revisit Ezekiel 37

Ezekiel declared in 37: 1-3 (NIV) – “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. And He said to me, Son of man, can these dry bones live?” I answered, “O Lord, God, you know.”

As I personally began to declare these scriptures over me, I sensed the Lord instructing me to prophesy to your situation – to your bones and body as well. His desire is for you to overcome in His abundant life. If you are battle weary, discouraged, reeling from loss, fatigued or dry, spiritually, mentally or physically – this word is for you as spoken in Ezekiel 37. You may also choose to read and declare the following over you daily.

You Will Come to Life!

“Then He said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.”

You Will Come Out of Your Graves!

“Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people…. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. And I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord,” (vs. 11-14).

His Covenant of Peace Is Everlasting!

And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and set My sanctuary in their midst forever. My dwelling place also will be among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. (vs.26-27).

Thank you Father for your truth and revelation. Your word does not return void. Your desire is for your people to prosper and be in health, even as their souls prosper., 3 John 1:2. Come now and breathe Your breath of life again into your people as we decree: “These bones will live! Come alive in the name of Jesus!

In His Love,