Finding God When Life Crumbles
God’s Message of Hope in Ezekiel
Paul David Tripp
BSF Guest Contributor
How do you act when life makes no sense? When the things that you depend on have crumbled? Where do you look? What do you think?
Maybe you lost the job that you thought you would have forever. Maybe the unthinkable has happened, and your marriage has broken up. Maybe physical sickness has robbed you of your strength. Maybe your church, your place of refuge, is in horrible controversy. Maybe your family has been thrown into controversy and division.
When life is hard, when it doesn’t seem to make sense—where do you run? Where do you hide?
These are some of the questions Ezekiel helps us answer. When we understand his experience living in exile as a priest without a temple, we discover how this ancient book speaks to us today. Even though Ezekiel lived thousands of years ago, he has much to teach us about holding on to hope in dark times.
It looked like death was reigning and all hope was lost.
Dealing With Life’s Brokenness
Ezekiel’s world was a broken world. God’s people were exiled and dispersed and God’s temple lay in ruins. During this time, it looked like death was reigning and all hope was lost. In these kind of moments, it’s tempting to question God’s promises. It’s tempting to question His power. It’s tempting to doubt His presence. It’s tempting to bring God into the court of our judgment and question His faithfulness and His love.
On the surface, Ezekiel seems to be a portion of Scripture that we should avoid when we’re feeling depressed, because it seems very depressing.
But there is a moment in Ezekiel that gives us hope. This moment is so beautiful. It’s the valley of dry bones. This word picture in this passage is just amazing.
“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 the 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.” (Ezekiel 37:1-2)
Dry bones as far as you can see, and the ultimate question of the whole biblical story is asked in that moment, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
The ultimate question of the whole biblical story is asked in that moment, "Son of Man, can these bones live?"
Trusting God With The Pieces
Ezekiel challenges us to ask, “Can life come out of death?” That question is important because if the answer is “No,” then we’re doomed.
Ezekiel shows us that the answer is, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” God has the power and the willingness to bring dead things to life.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:5-6)
And we can’t look at life coming into those dry bones in Ezekiel without thinking of Ephesians 2:4-5:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ezekiel is actually one of those places in the Old Testament where the gospel themes are not hard to find. I would call Ezekiel, “Resurrecting Grace.”
You see, apart from God’s resurrecting, life-giving grace, we’re all just dry bones. We’re just dead people walking. Out of death and destruction, God brings life! That’s the story of Jesus. He died to conquer death so that we could experience new life in Him. In the darkest of moments, the gospel shines the brightest!
Out of death and destruction, God brings life!
I am persuaded, and this will surprise some of you, that hopelessness is the doorway to hope. It’s only when you give up on finding life anywhere else that you will seek life where it can only ever be found.
When you look around and say, “There’s death all around me, death inside of me, I don’t know where to look for hope,” then you are ready to find true hope–hope that can make dry bones live. That hope can only be found in the person and work of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
So when you need hope, when you need to experience the gospel in a new way, don’t skip Ezekiel. Don’t skip the Old Testament. Because the gospel is there, ready to be discovered, ready to give us hope in our struggles today and challenges tomorrow.
About the Author
Dr. Paul David Tripp is a pastor, international event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. Paul launched his own ministry in 2006. He lives in Philadelphia and is hopelessly in love with his wife of more than 50 years, Luella. They have four grown children and six grandchildren.
This article was adapted from a post originally published on paultripp.com
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I enjoyed your article and what you had to say. The Lord bless you as continue to serve Him.
This was such a refreshing reminder of God’s love for me. I needed this word today!!!! Thank you for taking the time to illustrate perfectly that we are truly just dry bones without the spiritual breath of life that God so freely gives to those that truly want it.
For as long as I can remember, I have been talking with God. My hope rests in Jesus Christ and remembering always that He died for me. His righteousness is why I will see His face and be in the presence of my Father after i draw my last breath here.
Hope begins with faith and knowing the Lord’s will be my guide in the darkness. The prophets of the Old Testament put their trust in the One who strengthened them and provided for them. They rested in God’s promises and stayed hopeful that all things work according to God’s purpose. I do not understand why things happen the way they do, but my hope and trust remain with Jesus Christ. He is the hope in the darkness. Praise His Name!
Thank you Lord for your mercy and for speaking to us and opening our eyes wider so that we may see what you want to teach us and encourage us in difficult times. To God be the Glory!
I am already in an evening women’s class in Kenya.Feeling excited already and looking forward to dive deeper into this study.We desperately need this message in a world where evil lurks right, left and center.Much like the valley of dry bones.
The dry bones became alive with the breathe from God, reminded and ensured me that the day when I accepted Jesus Christ is my savior, I am alive eternally. This promise give me strength and hope when I face difficulties. I pray for God’s mercy on my two son, and his families, to know Him and receive God’s salvation.
As a BSFer, I am currenting facing challenges, but God’s word is my anchor. I am glad to know that “HOPELESSNESS IS THE DOORWAY TO HOPE”.
Thank you BSF I am growing in God Word Thank you
Am just wondering where I would be today without BSF! Exile, it is just as saying prison. In prison, you have no freedom. I remember when I suffered Covid and was admitted in hospital for one month. I thank God to know that Hopelessness is the door way to Hope. I have seen it with my own eyes. Am one of those people who did not like reading the old testament. I have enjoyed Gods conversation with Ezekiel in Ezekiel 2:5.
Powerful message of encouragement.It has brought a ray of hope concerning my marriage relationship.
Let me focus on The Lord.
Thank you very much.
I have friends who want to join an online class,they have never been in BSF, how do they go about it? Thank you.
Article SO timely!! For some reason the ‘dry bones’ in Ezekiel reminded me of my sister who is developing Alzheimer’s and gets worse each day.
Ezekiel helped to see in a different way there is life after death. Pray she comes to know Christ as her SAVIOR through this time.
Praying for your sister now, Barbara!
What encouragement in dark days. We see such dry bones around. May the dry bones LIVE! May they have breath in them!
This is very refreshing. Especially in these times when everything seems to be going wrong. Natural disasters, diseases and job losses. There is no guarantee for the future despite applying measures. ‘Hopelessness is the doorway to hope’ – Is a total surprise! ‘It’s only when you give up on finding life anywhere else that you will seek life where it can only ever be found.’ – Totally encouraging!
Great read. Out of our hopeless situation comes Hope through Christ.
This Blog is truth for today. We look around us and there are so many things and people who catch our attention and the weight of the reality is very heavy. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination I wonder at the revival that is springing up in our land and worldwide. What seems a most tragic event, leaving behind his wife, 2 beautiful children and his other family members. God knows what to do and when to do it. I trust the LORD to continue to bring us life, His will, His way.
Woh, ‼️ What a spirit filled summary of what to expect in the book of Ezekiel. I am more eagerly looking forward to our study of People of the Promise: Exile and Return, as well as what each of the Old Testament books, we are going to study will teach me and their applications to my modern day reality.
Thanks for the blog and devotion.
This is such a relevant blog post!
A friend’s sister died of cancer, another friend’s father died, Charlie Kirk was shot, I’m confronted daily with my own sinfulness and don’t know how to change.
“There’s death all around me, there’s death inside of me. I don’t know where to look for hope.”
“Can life come out of death?”
Yes! I’m seeing posts on social media that people that never went to church or haven’t gone for several years are now going (again), because of what happened.
I pray many more will go because of Charlie and many will continue to go because of Jesus. That they may say: “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:42
How marvelous, how wonderful!
Bless you for revealing to us the richness of the words in Ezekiel 37. All scripture truly is from God!
I love how the gospel themes are so intricately interwoven in this Old Testament study. Holy Spirit was with Ezekiel through it all as He is with us today, leading and guiding us to the doorway to hope..in HIM.
This message was very timely and appropriate for such a time as this in which we’re all living. There is chaos throughout the land and people are polarized and that spirit has crept into the church setting member at odds with one another. God ascribes to no party and He is NOT a Christian. God is a Spirit and we who worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. My Prayer for myself is that God make me the salt of the earth and like a city set upon a hill whose light cannot be hid.
2 Kings 13:20-21 God’s Life is even in Elisha’s dry bones !! Friends were on their way to bury a man when they spied marauders ready to attack them as they carried their friend’s funeral pallet to the graveyard. The friends tossed the body into Elisha’s grave as it turned out. When the man’s body “touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on hid feet.” Incredible, awesome, merciful, Creator God of the Bible ! !
“In the darkest of moments, the gospel shines the brightest!”
May it be so. Thank you for this blog.
This is so meaningful! I especially liked the thought that hopelessness can be the doorway to hope because we give up on finding life in all the worthless things we’d been living for and begin seeking life where it can only ever be found–in Jesus.
Hopelessness is the doorway to hope.
My dear brother and sister-in-law lost their son. It is shattered their lives and it seems hope as diminished. I pray that God will lift them out of the mire and bring life back into their lives.
Praying for your Family
Timely, timeless truth! THANK YOU for such a powerful, hope-giving message!
Very encouraging. In hopelessness I’ll find a door to the real hope.
Thank you for these has spoken deep to my life. I’ll prophesy to my hopeless situation as I delve into God’s word in this study
What a timely reminder. That God speaks life and hope in hopeless situations.
I am in the field of dry bones…. Empty and broken… it’s dark and I can’t see through the tears streaming down my face… when dear Lord will these dry bones live again? When will you take my burdens? When….💔😓
Ezekiel 37 is a prophecy about the restoration of Israel. It was the whole purpose behind why God showed the vision….. Israel was cast out of the land God promised, but one day will return and one day all Israel will be saved. It was the hopeful message that Ezekiel brought to the exiles.
Tell each heartache to God. Sob out your hurt, yell your despair, to God! Beg with your entire, giving-up body and mind for Him to gather you up in his arms. He will. AND THERE HE IS! NOW YOU’RE READY FOR HIM. NOW He is remaking you, turning your entire focus to HIM AND HIS LOVE. It is all you need. Each morning you will deliberately reach out your arms for Him to hold you in His palm throughout your day’s experiences with the world. No more isolation in grief. SUDDENLY IT’S ALL SO SIMPLE, GLORIOUSLY FULFILLING! His Commandments are in the back of your mind always. Your thoughts and words and actions are in tune with the light that is God living within you.
Thank you for this blog today. I’m struggling with the recent diversity over the horrible killing of Charlie Kirk.
And I struggled to understand chp 1 of Ezekiel today with all those visions. So your positive blog was/ is a blessing.
Thank you.
This is the I really read study has Been enlisting I felt the
life of our Father s promises
These issues still apply today. Already we see God .’s mercy and grace thru the prophet of old. Gods love serves us today thru his son Jesus christ.
HOPELESSNESS IS THE DOORWAY TO HOPE!!! Praise God!!
Thank you BSF staff for taking us on an adventure thru this journey called Grace. It’s exciting to actually be involved in this great gift of Salvation. I think the years I’ve studied with you have added that abundance to my life that Jesus said we would and could have. Looking forward always to the growth coming my way that I may bless somebody with the Joy of it. Thank you so much. Ezekiel has always been a challenging book for me but you’ve made me ready for it.
This study and this blog have given me such encouragement in a valley that seems hopeless by human standards. Thank you! “Oh Lord God, you know”.
At the right time this blog has come to me; where I am seeing the hopelessness all around me. I feel that God purposely chose us to be in the places to see and feel how He feels about the situation & how it hurts Him. I am visiting my daughter in a different country & I felt so strongly the hopelessness around me. But reading Ezekiel has given me hope that God can change the situation. He can bring life to the lifeless object.
I love this message! Our daughter is dealing with her husband’s addiction and cancer and her son’s depression and addiction so I prayed that God would raise up her dream and His purpose for her family. Ezekiel teaches us that God is capable of doing this! Praise God!
Loved it! I started reading Ezekiel in May, I felt just like him. God has filled my dry bones with the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord! 🙏
In my college years I was running as fast and hard away from God as I could run and He methodically tripped me up and took away my worldly supports. It was only when I hit bottom, looked around me with tear-filled eyes and asked my boyfriend, “What do I do with my life?” that I was ready to respond to his suggestion, “Just give it to Jesus.” I did, and my life completely changed, then and forever.
I love your comment that hopelessness is the doorway to hope! Quite prophetic. I completed Ezekiel self-study via WordGo App and highly recommend it to all. It was very invigorating and embodied God’s resurrection grace. Thank you for your focused synopsis.
Faith, Hope and Love, these remain forever!!
I cried out to God and He answered. My dry bones were screaming. Thank you for reminding us that in Ezekiel, (Old Testament) God doesn’t just bring light into the darkness- He brings life where there was death. Not just life, but new life. Amen.
I am humbled, thankful and in awe of God’s call and direction for His people. BSF is a tool for so many seeking. Thank you for sharing. God bless.
Amazing study of Ezekeil faith
“The fear of the Lord leads to life. Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”
What does it mean to be “untouched”? Please help me by continuing to explain how I can get there more fully.
We serve a great God. With him “All thigs are possible”.
The Grace of Hope is such a precious gift in our life.
Alleluia!
This is a perfect time to study this area. I keep asking God to give me answers to how we can help our country become more stable, caring, and empathetic. Politics are out of hand, dissention is present everywhere and now we have killing. I keep asking what can we do to save us from destruction. It is getting overwhelming for everyone,
In the Bible it warns us that these calamities will happen. We were born for such a time as this. Keep your eyes on Jesus and His return.
Absolutely, salvation is a gift of grace through Yeshua alone. But even in Ezekiel’s time, Israel wasn’t exiled because they lacked grace, they were exiled because they turned away from God’s commands. Restoration through grace doesn’t erase obedience; it empowers us to walk faithfully in God’s ways as a response to His love.
Thanks, BSF, for having Paul David Tripp as a blog contributor. God truly has used his voice of wisdom and teaching in my life. And he didn’t disappoint with his reflections on Ezekiel’s vision from God in this week’s study! Our God is full of resurrection power & grace. BRAVO! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
God gave me this passage of scripture many years ago when my closest friends’ marriage was coming apart. Today, it feels like everything in our nation and our world is coming apart and so I can understand Ezekiel’s response to God’s query– “O Lord, You know”.
I agree with Mr. Tripp that it’s in hopelessness that we find hope, that is the true hope of the world, Jesus. It’s how many of us came to faith. In our seemingly hopeless state, I pray that our nation and the nations will turn to the Lord…”and He will open our graves and cause us to come up out of our graves and He will put His Spirit within us and we shall live.” Let’s prophesy life and breath to our nation and over the nations!
Thank you for bringing us the story of Ezekiel this year. With our world in chaos and many people losing hope, once again God is ready and willing to right the wrongs; all we need to do is Believe and turn to Him.
Thank you for your words. I never before equated Ezekiel’s encounter with these bones to the experience of my coming back to life by the never-ending love and amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ until now, but in connecting the spiritual dots at this moment, I certainly do see the truth in your words that this is how many of us came to faith.
Like you, I agree with Dr. Tripp’s words, “hopelessness is the doorway to hope.” Painful, but true, and how I praise God for bringing me to the pain of the hopelessness that, at the very instance of His word, resurrected these old bones to life…that glorious new life!
It looks like death is reigning and all hope seems lost. Then, out of death and destruction God brings life. Now, abide faith, hope, love, these three. Hope does not disappoint us in Christ.
Very encouraging. Indeed there is hope
Hopelessness Is a Doorway to Hope!! I truly believe reading this blog today helped Me and a co-worker through some tough situations at our workplace. Storms don’t last forever, and that they turn into testimonies, that God see Us through. Thank you, Toya
Trusting in God when you (or a family member) are in a crisis is your only true means of survival. As a priest, Ezekiel’s world was turned upside down and his faith was being tested by God. God always has a plan and all of us are the last to know what that is until the revelation of His plan is before us. The Old Testament scriptures point to the proof in things foretold; when Jesus was born–both man and God. Hallelujah!
Thank you for your contribution Dr. Tripp! The ladies at my church recently studied your book “Relationships, a mess worth making”, and it made such a difference in our lives, just as I know studying Exile and Return will do. This is the second year of my BSF experience and it has made a huge difference in my life and relationships with God. Thank you to everyone involved in the continued success of this ministry. God bless all of us!
This message comes at a time when many are feeling hopeless. This recent storm has affected all Christian’s and the unbelievable hatred that is happening has caused such despair. As I read this blog i was reminded that there is hope in the God who does restore and revive. Thank you
It’s a real support message of hope where there seems to be no way and life is at a standstill, in the state of dry bones, Jesus turns everything around to His glory and gave me new life.
Every blessing
It’s a real support message of hope where there seems to be at a standstill.
Every blessing
While I was in the valley of dry bones. I was at the end of my rope. And God found me and changed everything. He gave me a new purpose for living and a new hope for my future.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights from the biblical perspective
Wow, Ezekiel’s world was broken just like our world is broken, BUT GOD! I am excited to learn and be encouraged this year!
Kim, I agree this is going to be a great season of God’s love for His people.🤗
Trust in the Lord and He will direct thy path.
BSF should provide the LinkedIn link at the beginning or end of the post for expedient posting.
What an “On time Word” and reflection for such a time as we are going through now.
Thank you so very much.
I am persuaded, and this will surprise some of you, that hopelessness is the doorway to hope. It’s only when you give up on finding life anywhere else that you will seek life where it can only ever be found.
When you look around and say, “There’s death all around me, death inside of me, I don’t know where to look for hope,” then you are ready to find true hope–hope that can make dry bones live. That hope can only be found in the person and work of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
So we’ll put. God and our faith will set us free.
Great information and reading. It helps me understand my lesson for the week.
God is in control! We just need to trust Him and His perfect plan for our lives.
Thank you for sharing this message.
“—-hopelessness is the doorway to hope. It’s only when you give up on finding life anywhere else that you will seek life where it can only ever be found.
—-That hope can only be found in the person and work of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. “
Your article reminds me of John 14:6a. where Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the Life.:” My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’blood and righteousness.
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement.
God is still in control!
God operate in impossibilities ways
Thank you, a great message. As humans we look every where for solutions, and look up to our savior last when everything falls apart. Along with hope we need patience for God’ s timing and His purpose. I have tasted it in my own life.
Amen! I loved what you said that “hopelessness is the doorway to hope” it has happened to me so often that only when I come to the end of what I know, I see God’s move in my life. Thank you for this encouraging word!
This was so uplifting and I needed to read this to bring back hope for my son that is going to a painful divorce. God bless you for sharing this.
Thank you so, much for encouraging me with the word of Hope and life in JESUS, I will never give up or look for life anywhere else.
Just listened to Dr. Paul Tripp—-
THANK YOU….
YES… hopelessness to HOPE…
Truly experienced this in my life—-
The OT —Only studied it once in BSF—- sooooo VERY MEANINGFUL—-
Amazing Grace— was lost and now…
SAVED… Glory Hallejuiah
Father, thank You for giving us life, and hope for life. I turn completely to You, seeking YOUR Way, Your Truth…YOU through Your Word, through You Jesus…these words, and especially the means of “studying” them developed through and implemented in BSF, is eye, and HEART opening, and thereby life changing and life giving. Thank You, in Jesus name.
In spite of the chaos in this country and the world, by keeping our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we have hope in the life to come!
Thank you for this reminder that God restores life into dead things, and situations. I have witnessed, His restoration in my own life and circumstance.
Nothing is too hard for God.
Hallelujah!❤️✝️♥️🙏🏾♥️😇💐🌹🎊💞
Very encouraging message of hope in this broken world.
This world is so evil. It takes your time and attention and distracts you. Sometimes, all you can see is the evil. But, in our darkest moments, that bring us to our knees, there we can find hope and God.. Recently ,a neighbor of mine lost her son to violence. All I could say to her was, “sorry, sorry”, Then I thought of the “dry bones” and I said , “do you know about Job ?” She was quiet and she said, “maybe a lost life, can save a soul ? She said she needed a bible and today I brought one to her house.”
I went through a divorce about two and a half years ago and I feel so dry and can’t get back to where I was spiritually. I feel so out of it. This encourages me in a very big way with hope and what I truly do know: God loves me and He wants me to return, and I know I will see Him work in my life in a very major way. Thank you for this. Very encouraging.
This is life changing. Thank you for sharing such deep insights that brings hope even when going through trials and tribulations. I am grateful and may the Lord continue to use you to transform lives through His word.
We are thankful for the hope that is foundnd in Jesus. He gives life and restores.
Loved the message in today’s blog
by Dr. Paul Tripp.
Hopelessness is the path to hope!
It is true that in our lives we all face challenges of one sort or another.
It is the challenge to see how the Lord is going to take dry bones and make them into living bones!
Beautifully expressed message!
Thank you, Dr. Paul Tripp!
Good teaching, thank you. It is wonderful to see the prophetic fulfillment in the Jews returning to their land and their dry bones from exiles around the world being brought to life in the land promised to them. To see them flourishing and God’s promise being fulfilled encourages us that God will fulfill all His promises to us.
Out of Death and Destruction God brings life. That RESURRECTING GRACE!! Thank you for pointing to Jesus in Ezekiel. I needed this today. Our Fathers timing is always perfect.
So blessed by this word, is a much needed reminder of the importance to look up to Jesus Christ when everything else is falling apart.
Words of wisdom for us today. It is easy to look at what we don’t have instead of looking at what we do have in Christ and eternity. Christ resides in all of the Old Testament.
I want to thank you for this encouragement. It means a lot. Exactly what I needed to read tonight.
“The ultimate question of the whole biblical story is asked in that moment, “Son of Man, can these bones live?” Praise the God of all Hope. Praise the One who paid my debt, and raised THIS LIFE up from the dead. All Hail King Jesus: God’s Son, Humanity’s Savior. My Savior and my Lord and my God. Amen.
When we’re at the end of our rope, Jesus alone is our hope! Great blog!
Amen!!! Jesus is our anchor in the midst of storms. He will keep us and bring us through.
To God be the Glory
Thank you for reminding me that true hope is found only in our Lord and Savior….the resurrected Jesus Christ…. And thank you God for the gift of hope through your mighty, merciful, precious and holy Son!
This article is very relevant to me and my family right now. When sickness and financial difficulty hits, we can only ask: “will these dry bones live?” Well, the truth is, God brings life out of death and destruction.
I am part of BSf Bible study .Forest Hill Church. Charlotte.NC
Holding on to HOPE!
We love Paul Tripp. He has a wonderful CD series called “what did you expect”. We give this as a gift to all newly married couples. A must have! Thank you Dr. Tripp for shedding hope in a sinful and hopeless world. BSF has provided me much learning about the Bible. I look forward to this year study when I return from camping. Thank you
This was very uplifting!
Ezekiel gives us hope when everything around us seems hopeless, God is still faithful and in absolute control. Praise God!
This gives me hope in my present situation.God bless you
This gives me hope in our world. Thank you.
Interesting
Oh I read Paul David Tripp’s devotional everyday, New Morning Mercies. Thank you for this Blog. At a time when many despair over the events of last week with the assassination of a beloved brother Charlie Kirk we can find hope in God’s word and know that he is a sovereign, loving and personal God through it all.
I loved reading about the valley of dry bones and visualizing these bones coming together, each bone finding its matching extension to then gain muscle and flesh until the living bones were made whole again. Then, “Come, O breath, from the four winds” and they came alive!!! Wow! What a picture . . . and all in perfect order!!! Our God is so good!
God really know what we need and when we need it. This is the perfect time to study Ezekiel along with the Exile & Return. The state of our world is in chaos. It’s good to reflect on the goodness of God and to know that no matter what is going on this is God’s world. God loves us and He is in control of everything. He can and will make everything new again. It is all about his love for us and our love for each other. Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and love our neighbor as ourself.
Yes—-
Our Lord equips us for what’s coming—-Trusting His Word☝️
Thank God for hope!
“The ultimate question in the whole Biblical story is asked in that moment, Son of Man can these bones live?”
The answer to this question is YES! and it point to Salvation. Each of us through the saving grace of Jesus Christ can move from a valley of dry bones into a new creation.
Thank you for showing the truth of 2 Timothy 3:16 (“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness) through this blog. The Old Testament is relevant and it’s passages like Ezekiel 37 that shows God’s desire to make Himself known and powerfully connects the New Testament.
Your blog was ‘spot on’ or where my current journey is – thanks for reminding me that God can and will bring these ‘dried bones’ to life.
This provides hope to everyone
What do the four creatures represent and the wheels?
So thankful for BSF, and I’m excited about learning more about Ezekiel and the other people in the Old Testament who I’ve read about several times. Now, I get to understand more about the “Exile and Return” they endured, and the things they overcame. Thank you!
I worked with Hospice for 25 years. At times life working in Hospice was so discouraging. It was so odd for me to get use to speaking with a patient on the phone and the next day they were gone. It reminded me of the uncertainty of life The past BSF Bible Study was on the book of Revelation that provided hope along with increasing my knowledge. I studied the book of Revelation most of the time before I started BSF, along with other New Testament Books. I would study some in Psalms but not a whole lot in the Old Testament unless it was in my Sunday School Book that I barely studied. This years BSF Bible Study Exile and Return has opened my eyes to the importance of the Old Testament and confirmation of hope. I am so excited to learn more and apply
more to my life from God’s Holy Word.
Thank you! I needed to hear that encouragement today about dry bones coming to life as I pray for the struggling marriage between our daughter and her husband… and the wellbeing of their 3 young children.
Paul Tripp quote from his book Instruments in the Redeemers Hands: “As I incarnate the character of the Lord I am calling people to trust and obey.” Page 129 He speaks of being incarnational throughout this book.
Scripture never calls Christians to replicate the incarnation itself. Only Jesus is God in the
flesh. His role is unique, and
His redemptive work cannot be
copied.
This is wrong teaching.
“Hopelessness is the doorway to hope”. Life-giving words.
Thank you, Dr. Tripp.
As I look around at the darkness, despair, and division enveloping our country right now, I am uplifted by this post. I love Paul David Tripp’s encouraging words. I have his devotional, New Morning Mercies, downloaded on my phone (after giving away my written copy) so I can soak in his godly wisdom wherever I am.
Thank you for sharing this very insightful and encouraging truth. Thank you for showing how the Good News of God’s restorative love is in the Old Testament as well as in the New.
What a timely reminder for us. Pointing us to the valley of dry bones is a perfect example on how God is the God of provision and restoration. BSF is such a wonderful community to be part of. I thank God and you for encouraging us.
This Title had me thinking about what I’m going through in my life. I love Jesus and Believe in God.
I had a time that I withdrew from God and felt very low in a very black hole. I am trying to get back to God and his guidance. So articles like this gives me hope.
Thank
We love Tripp! We read his ‘New Morning Mercies’ most every day, and we’ve given dozens of copies away. Thanks for posting his take on the Valley of Bones.
Amen! Same here. I read “New Morning Mercies” everyday and plan to buy it for family members. It is a gem!
Hope in dark times! What an appropriate phase for current times. I also loved the phase of “Resurrecting Grace” when thinking about the answer of ‘YES, these dry bones can live.” Remember in Ezekiel 1-2 in the previous lesson, Ezekiel himself was raise up when the Holy Spirit came into him!
Than you for this very timely and encouraging message of hope and faith in hard times. It really lifted my view and perspective of the dark days that we’re in now because of all the hatred and division in our country and how evil seems to be running rampant like I’ve never seen before.
I greatly appreciate BSF and all it has done for me over the years. It’s been a great blessing in my life and continues to be. Praise the Lord.
I am a member of the BSF men’s group that meets at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I look forward to this year of learning and fellowship. – Jay 🌞
This reading made me to eagerly want to study God’s word using this tool of BSF. I know I will surely benefit from this study. I thank God for this tool of BSF to study His word.
As someone going through a challenging time, this has given me hope. Dry bones in my life will live again. Thank you Jesus!!
Thank you Pastor Paul.
This is timely reminder of our hope is found in our realization that we are hopeless without Christ. Thank you Dr. Tripp.
This was so encouraging. Thank you for guiding us through the Valley of the Dry Bones. Your insight that the journey to hope is through hopelessness is very timely.
I had my first group meeting today with BSF and it was so good! I found out about it through a woman that came to get food from my church and I was volunteering in the Food Pantry and over heard her talk about this Bible Study online and I work 2 jobs and I need more time with God and with my sisters in Christ and learning and studying Gods word so I asked her about it and she gave me the info and here I am and so thankful! Please pray for me and my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren for God to preserve our lives and souls from the evil one and remember us in his kingdom! Save my children and loved ones and do great and mighty things in thru and for us and restore everything the enemy has stolen from me/us in the land of the living for HIS GLORY and our good! In Jesus name I pray! Amen
Welcome to BSF! You are going to be blessed in more ways than you can imagine through the in-depth study of His Word that you experience through BSF.
Great read!!!! Keep them coming ❤️❤️❤️
This reading was amazing. I love BSF and its study.