Graves Into Gardens: Restoring Hope in Dead PlacesSample

GRAVES INTO GARDENS

You turn graves into gardens

You turn bones into armies

You turn seas into highways

You’re the only one who can

Elisha was a prophet in the Old Testament who lived a remarkable life. He spent years under his mentor, Elijah, and was with Elijah when he was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire –– and that was only the start.

While he was alive, Elisha stopped a widow and her child from starving during a famine, saved a town from poisoning by cleansing the waters of a polluted river, and even raised a young boy from the dead.

In every scenario, Elisha seemed to have a special way of seeing potential in things that were seemingly dead. We probably shouldn’t be surprised when the end of Elisha’s story in 2 Kings 13 isn’t what it seems either.

After every great thing he’d done, in verse 20 it simply says, “Elisha died and was buried” (2 Kings 13:20). Just like that.

At first glance, this looks like a disappointing and underwhelming end to Elisha's life. But God doesn't always say it’s over when we say it’s over.

Elisha may have died, but God wasn’t done.

The Scripture goes on to say that:

“Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” (2 Kings 13:21)

When the dead man fell on Elisha’s bones, it wasn’t over. 

When Ezekiel found himself in the valley of dry bones, it wasn’t over. 

When Jesus hung on the cross and was buried in the tomb, it wasn’t over. 

The enemy wants you to think that it’s over. But through all these stories, God is showing us that none of these places were actually graves. 

They were gardens.

Right when you think you’ve been buried by your situation, God reveals that you weren’t buried –– you were planted.

New things are springing forth. New life is taking root. 

This is going to take a perspective shift, though. God is in the business of bringing dead things back to life, but it’s up to you to see the potential in what He’s planted.