Life-Giving Words of Hope & Encouragement

When Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He spoke three powerful words: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43). But even after Lazarus was miraculously raised from the dead, he was still bound in grave clothes. Jesus then gave another command: “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (John 11:44).

This story is a powerful picture of how God calls us out of spiritual death into a new life. However, even after we experience His resurrection power, we can still be wrapped in the grave clothes of our past—old mindsets, fear, guilt, shame, or bitterness. God has set us free, but we must remove those things that are holding us back from fully walking in the freedom He has given us.

The Grave Clothes of the Past

Many of us carry remnants of our past even after we have been made new in Christ. We hold onto mistakes, regrets, and failures, letting them define us instead of stepping into the identity God has given us. The enemy loves to remind us of where we’ve been, whispering that we’re not really free, that we don’t deserve God’s blessings, or that we’ll never change. But that’s not the truth.

The moment we accept Christ, we become a new creation:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If the old has gone, why do we keep wearing the grave clothes? It’s because transformation is a process. God does the work of raising us to life, but we have to make the choice to let go of what is no longer serving us.

Shaking Off the Labels

Maybe life has labeled you “unworthy,” “damaged,” or “unloved.” Those are grave clothes—false identities that don’t belong to a child of God. He calls you chosen, redeemed, and beloved (Ephesians 1:4-7). You are not your past. You are not your failures. You are a new creation in Christ, and it’s time to live like it.

Isaiah 61:3 tells us that God gives us “beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” He has exchanged our grave clothes for something far greater, but we have to be willing to put on the new.

Letting Go of Fear and Doubt

Fear is one of the strongest grave clothes that can keep us from moving forward. We fear failure, rejection, or the unknown. But fear has no place in the life of a believer because God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Doubt is another grave cloth that needs to be removed. When Jesus raised Lazarus, He didn’t say, “Come out if you believe it’s possible.” He simply commanded, and it happened. Sometimes we let doubt keep us in the tomb longer than we need to be. But God is not limited by our understanding. He calls us to step out in faith, even when we don’t have all the answers.

Surround Yourself with the Right People

Did you notice that Jesus didn’t tell Lazarus to take off his own grave clothes? Instead, He told the people around him to help remove them. This reminds us of the importance of community.

We need people in our lives who will help us walk in freedom—who will speak life over us, encourage us, and remind us of who we are in Christ. If we stay around negative, toxic influences, we’ll struggle to remove the grave clothes. But when we surround ourselves with faith-filled people, they will help us step into the fullness of God’s plan.

The Time to Walk in Freedom is Now

God has already done the work of raising you to new life. But will you remove the grave clothes? Will you let go of the fear, shame, and doubt? Will you step into the identity He has given you?

Colossians 3:9-10 says: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

It’s time to take off what no longer belongs to you. The chains are already broken. The door is already open. You are no longer in the tomb. You are free. Now, walk in it.

We want to invite you to experience this freedom with us at Generations United on Easter Sunday, April 20th! We will be celebrating the resurrection power of Jesus Christ with two services at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Come and be reminded that just as Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He is calling you into new life. Don’t stay bound by the grave clothes of your past. Step into the freedom, joy, and hope that Jesus has for you. We can’t wait to see you there! I hope this speaks to you, and I pray you have a blessed day!