Discernment in the Valley: What Lives and What Stays Buried

Life has a way of leading us through valleys—seasons where everything feels dry, barren, and hopeless. Dreams fade, relationships break, finances collapse, faith feels weak, and even our bodies remind us of their limitations. In those moments, we look around and see nothing but dry bones, and we wonder if life will ever come back to what has been lost.

But here’s the good news: God is the One who breathes life into what seems impossible. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us, reviving what He intends to live again. Faith, family, calling, health, and God-given dreams may feel gone, but in His perfect timing and according to His will, He can cause them to rise again.

Yet there is another side we cannot ignore—discernment. Not every dead thing in our lives is meant to be revived. Some relationships ended because they were destructive. Some habits had to die because they were harmful. Some doors shut because they were never aligned with God’s plan in the first place. If we try to resurrect what God has already put to rest, we will only find ourselves bound to yesterday’s pain.

The real wisdom in the valley is learning to ask: “Lord, what do You want to breathe life into, and what do You want me to release?” That’s where true freedom is found,

in trusting God not only with what He revives, but also with what He leaves buried.

So if you find yourself standing in a valley today, know this: God is still able. He can renew, restore, and revive—but He also calls you to trust His discernment. Some bones are destined to rise as an army, and others are meant to rest in the grave. The victory is knowing the difference and finding peace in His perfect will.