Sunday, March 22nd, 2026

Meditation

In my opinion, one of the most iconic movies of all time is The Wizard of Oz. As you are all aware, a young Kansas farm girl faces certain death but somehow endures the storm. She’s immediately transported from the world she once knew to a place that seems quite strange at first. She finds companionship in the most unlikely group of friends as she secretly longs to return to her family and friends back home. Life and death, success and failure, emptiness and fulfillment are all wrapped up into a colorful new life that all begins by following the Yellowbrick Road.

One of the most notable prophets in the entirety of scripture is Ezekiel. He prophesies during a time of desperation, hopelessness, and despair in the life of the Israelites. Because of their unfaithfulness, Israel has been exiled to the land of Babylon as they face an almost certain death and complete destruction. In one of the most disturbing prophetic messages, we find ourselves transported to a valley full of lifeless dry bones. As God speaks, there is a rattling and coming together of the bones. Flesh and tendons suddenly appear, but there is no life until God breathes into them.

We often find ourselves in strange and unusual places that are filled with the reality of sin. “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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.” (Ephesians 2:3-5) The rattling we hear in the valleys of life is the power of God’s word conquering death. The Father speaks life and forgiveness into our lives through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the life we live often carries us into places we do not recognize. Valleys filled with the result of our sin lead us to roads we never expected to walk. As You spoke life into the lifeless bones, speak Your word of truth into us. Even though we are dead in our trespasses, You are faithful and just to forgive us all our sins through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen