Can These Bones Live? But God!

Blog Post by Brandy Edenfield

 

Too many broken pieces! When you look around you or even AT yourself or your situation, what is the “too” you see?

• Too Big?!
• Too far gone?!
• Too messy?!
• Too much pain?!

 

Nearly four years ago, what I saw in my world was a close family friend named Jesse (we were raised like family and I called him brother) that had been addicted to heroin for 12 years. Jesse had struggled with drugs and alcohol for several years before he was introduced to heroin, so the destructiveness of addiction had been active for nearly two decades. Jesse had gone to four inpatient, secular rehabs, but each time he was back on heroin within days; twice he confessed to using in rehab. He spent his time with scary, dangerous people. He himself had become a user of people, a thief, and a liar. Those of us who loved him could barely remember the beautiful little boy that always smiled and laughed & told silly jokes. That boy was buried in the rubble of addiction. If I’m truly transparent, I should confess, I felt Jesse was a “lost cause”.   He appeared to be “too far gone.”

 

 

At this time, I was active in Christians United Ministries (*C.U.M.I), teaching the good news and hope to broken people daily, yet I looked at Jesse’s life and felt complete hopelessness. I remember one particular night, [after a late-night call from Jesse telling me he had been badly beaten by some dealers he owed money to], I hung up and fell to my knees in my bedroom, sobbing, saying to my husband “my brother’s gonna die from this. I don’t believe even God can rescue him.” I recognized that night that I PERSONALLY needed to see a miracle. I went into my prayer closet asking God to show me His glory and His might by healing and delivering Jesse. See, I was tired of hearing about “Gods power” and how “He still does miracles.” from other people. I was even annoyed at myself as I spoke these words to others, knowing I couldn’t make these declarations wholeheartedly. I needed to see Him do a miracle. My faith was at an all-time low.

 

 

But God!

Two months later, through many difficult circumstances, Jesse called one night, ready to take the help we offered him, to come from Pennsylvania to Alabama and go through a one-year TEEN CHALLENGE program. I’m so grateful to say that in August, my brother Jesse will celebrate four years sober and serving Jesus.  Little did I know, this was just the beginning for me!

Let me digress for a minute- I was raised in 12 Step programs and had long since decided I had had enough of addicts and their “recovery” journey. For years I steered clear of all things and people dealing with addiction. It was too painful and statistically, it was discouraging.

 

 

 

Through those two months before Jesse accepted help, my heart grew so heavy and burdened not just for Jesse, but for people in addiction. I began to feel deep compassion and pain for these people that were fighting this powerful stronghold. My heart hurt as I had never experienced. God was calling me to intercede on their behalf. I submitted to this. I prayed and petitioned on their behalf daily.  I did not, however, want to be part of their stories.

GOD HAD OTHER PLANS! He changed my heart. He started to bring back all the lessons I’d learned for years growing up around recovery and deliverance. My heart started to say “yes Lord, where do you want me to go?” And His response came in the form of phone calls to our ministry from people looking for counsel/help with addiction or loved ones with addictions. I continued to ask for courage and grace to walk out this calling and He continued to hear my prayers & meet my needs.

 

Walking it Out!

Several months ago, during prayer in our office, we were praying for a local women’s group that we would be bringing Crossing2Freedom (*C2F) to starting the next day. I felt a painful urgency in my prayers for these ladies. During this time, I was reminded of the story in Ezekiel 7 (titled VALLEY OF DRY BONES). In my mind’s eye I saw dry bones everywhere I looked. I felt the scripture come alive in my heart “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” I felt hope stir up in my heart, knowing how this story would go.  AND IT HAPPENED!! Those bodies started to breathe! Not only did they breathe, but they became a great army!! HALLELUJAH!

As I type this, I’m overcome with hope and encouraged by the promise from our MIGHTY GOD that He will do what He promises! He will raise our dead, dry bones to life & create an army in the midst of a dry valley! C.U.M.I has since linked arms with several addiction/recovery ministries in our area am I am so grateful to be part of what God is doing.

 

 

[click_to_tweet tweet=”YES INDEED- that “too big, too hard, impossible” thing in your life is a set up for a miracle! JESUS does BIG THINGS! In fact, I believe the bigger the mess, the more He rejoices in the resurrection evidence that HE ALONE can manifest.” quote=”YES INDEED- that “too big, too hard, impossible” thing in your life is a set up for a miracle! JESUS does BIG THINGS! In fact, I believe the bigger the mess, the more He rejoices in the resurrection evidence that HE ALONE can manifest.” theme=”style7″]

 

 

I don’t know if you’re encouraged, but I know I am! I serve a BIG BIG GOD- the God of the impossible. Nothing is too big or too hard for Him.
Read this story for yourself- pray for hope and speak life into your dead situation. Your God will show up & show out- it’s what He does.

Prayer

Father,

I ask you to breathe life into my circumstances and into those around me.  I trust you and believe you can cause these dry bones to live again.  Thank you in Jesus name. AMEN.

 

The prophet of God spoke to those bones and he heard a great rattling as the bones reconnected and he saw muscle and flesh grown over those bones. The prophet heard God say “Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.” 

–  Ezekial 7