Daily Devotional: Come Out of the Grave
There are moments in life where parts of us feel buried.
Not physically, but spiritually.
Dreams we've let die.
Faith that feels weak.
Hearts that feel distant, tired, or worn down.
In the raising of Lazarus, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. By every human understanding, it was over. There was no question, he was gone. The situation looked final.
But Jesus didn't see it that way. To Him, Lazarus wasn't beyond reach; He said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." - John 11:11
Jesus stood before the tomb and cried out:
"Lazarus, come forth."
And what was dead responded to His voice.
There is something striking about this moment:
Lazarus didn't raise himself.
He didn't fight his way out.
He didn't earn his way back to life.
Jesus called him, and that was enough.
The same voice that spoke life to Lazarus is still speaking today. Maybe not audibly, but clearly: through His Word, through conviction, and through that quiet pull in your spirit that says:
"This isn't where you belong anymore."
Sometimes we are the ones standing at the edge of something that feels too far gone.
- A faith that feels dry.
- A heart that's grown distant.
- Old wounds we've buried but never healed.
- Habits or mindsets we feel stuck in.
- A calling we've convinced ourselves is no longer possible.
But Jesus is still calling: "Come forth."
Not when you feel ready.
Not when you've fixed everything.
Right now.
When Lazarus came out of the tomb, he was alive, but still wrapped in grave clothes.
And Jesus said:
"Loose him, and let him go." - John 11:44
This is where many of us find ourselves.
We've heard His call. We've stepped forward.
But we are still wrapped in:
- Old habits.
- Old identities.
- Old lies about who we are.
You can be alive in Christ...and still learning how to walk in confidence.
You're not called to stay bound in what Jesus already called you out of. You are not meant to live like the grave still has a hold on you.
"Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live." - Ezekiel 37:5
If Jesus can call a man out of a tomb...he can call life into anything that feels dry, buried, or beyond hope.
So when you feel that pull, don't ignore it.
That's His voice.
And when He calls you, rise up.
Reflecting on the story of Lazarus really resonates deeply, especially when life feels overwhelming and parts of us seem spiritually buried. From my own experience, I’ve encountered periods when faith feels dry, and dreams seem to have died—moments when the future looks hopeless. But the narrative of Jesus calling Lazarus out of the tomb reminds me that no situation is truly beyond redemption. One thing that stands out is that Lazarus didn’t awaken himself. He didn’t muster strength or earn his way back to life. It was simply Jesus' command—"Lazarus, come forth"—that brought him out of the grave. This teaches me that sometimes we don't need to fix everything on our own before we can move forward in life. We just need to respond to the voice inviting us out, even if we’re still wrapped in old fears, habits, or doubts. In my walk of faith, hearing that quiet yet firm pull in my spirit meant acknowledging areas of life that felt "dead" or stuck. This spiritual invitation to rise doesn’t require readiness or perfection. It’s about stepping out now, trusting that healing and transformation will follow as we loosen the "grave clothes" of past wounds and limiting beliefs. I’ve also found encouragement in Ezekiel 37:5—"Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live." This verse reminds me that God’s power to renew isn’t limited to biblical times but is active today. Whether it's old habits, spiritual dryness, or lost hope, Jesus can breathe new life into any situation. When you feel that gentle tug in your heart signaling it’s time to move on from what’s holding you back, don’t hesitate. Answer that call by faith, even if it means walking into the unknown. Step forward confident that you’re not alone in this journey. Like Lazarus, you may still be "wrapped in grave clothes"—the remnants of old fears or identities—but Jesus’ call is to "loose" them and live freely. This story inspires me to share with others who feel similarly burdened. Sometimes, the greatest breakthrough is simply responding to God's invitation to come out of the grave of spiritual deadness and into new life. It’s a beautiful reminder that, regardless of how far gone things seem, Jesus’ voice has the power to bring you back to life and fullness.
