I had a thought yesterday. I’m still unpacking this mentally, so just go with me on this. Have you ever noticed that, as believers, even though something dies, it always breathes new life again in some way? The thing itself may not breathe new life, but it always leads to new life.
Lately, I’m seeing it everywhere.
I see it in nature. The leaves are about to change here in Nashville. They will wilt and dry away and die. But, in the spring, they’re coming back to life again. Every single year this happens. What a reminder that, in life, there are seasons of growth and seasons of death, but life always follows death.
I see it in my career. God has given me a new list of hopes and dreams that frankly, scare me to death. But, they’re all coming to life and it’s absolutely beautiful.
I see it in my church. For those of you who don’t know, our pastor resigned a little over two years ago, and for the past year, God has brought new life to our church in ways I didn’t think were possible.
This reminds me of Natalie Grant’s song, “Clean”. It says–
What was dead now lives again
My heart’s beating, beating inside my chest
Oh I’m coming alive with joy and destiny
‘Cause You’re restoring me piece by piece
It happens all around us. It happened to Jesus and it happens to us, but I hope that these examples show evidence that even though we can’t see it, and even though we can’t feel it, God will breathe new life into us again. Why? Because He promised.
This is what God says,
the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
they lie down and then can’t get up;
they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me.
Isaiah 43:18-21 (The Message)
Trey Schruff 