Ezekiel 3:25-27: Ropes will be put upon you, you cannot go out, you cannot talk.
BUT ... when I speak with you ...
As I was reading, these phrases seemed to come together as one statement. Although they are lifted out of context, the principle is not abused by using them in this way.
Sometimes, and sometimes suddenly, we find ourselves in confining circumstances. Perhaps because of an illness, an accident, work situations or the painful necessities of an abruptly changed life, we feel as though ropes were binding us. It seems that we have little or no opportunity to do anything for the Lord and we are assaulted by deceitful discouragement with the impression that we are useless.
We need to see this time as a special gift from the Sovereign Lord, designed by our loving Father. If He has shut us in, He wants us to be SHUT IN WITH HIM!
Listen to what He says. "When I speak with you I will open your mouth and you shall say ..."
Just think! In the secret place Almighty God wants to spend time with us, talking to us, teaching us and making us increasingly confident in His unconditional love.
From personal experience I can promise you that these times can be the most spiritually profitable times of our lives. During these unexpected seasons of restriction we learn that it is not our words and deeds for God, but His words and deeds, first in us and then through us, that will accomplish His eternal purposes. During these times we can be folded close to the Father-heart of God.
When we feel most useless, it is God's greatest opportunity. Let us determine that in all the vicissitudes of life, mundane, painful, frightening or joyful, we will simply stand back and see how big God really is.
With love and prayers,