Memory Verse:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NIV)
Meditation:
In the silence of grief, when every voice around you whispers “it is finished,” there rises a still, small voice within your spirit declaring, “But I believe God will raise him again.” This is not denial of pain; it is defiance against death itself. It is the quiet confidence that the same God who spoke life into dust can command life back into what seems forever lost. Sit with this truth today. Let it sink deep into your weary heart. Death may have taken him, but the Resurrection and the Life has the final say.
Beloved child of God, there are moments in life when the world goes dark and the heart feels buried under the weight of loss. A loved one slips away into eternity, a dream you nurtured for years collapses, a relationship you poured your soul into lies cold and lifeless, or perhaps even your own faith seems to have breathed its last breath. In those crushing hours, the natural response is tears, questions, and sometimes despair. Yet, right there in the tomb of your deepest sorrow, faith rises with a bold declaration: “But I believe God will raise him again.”
This devotion is written for every believer who has stood at the grave of something precious and chosen to believe beyond what eyes can see. It is for the mother who buried her child, the father who watched his business die, the young person whose future plans were shattered by illness, and the minister whose calling feels entombed by failure. We are not called to pretend the pain is not real. We are called to proclaim that our God specializes in resurrection. From the very first pages of Scripture to the triumphant return of Christ, the Bible is a book of graves being opened and dead things coming back to life. Today, we anchor our hearts in that unchanging reality. No matter how final the goodbye feels, no matter how sealed the stone appears, our confession remains the same: “But I believe God will raise him again.”
Let this truth comfort you, challenge you, and ignite fresh hope. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and active right now. He is not limited by doctors’ reports, funeral arrangements, or the passage of time. He is the God of the impossible, and He is ready to breathe life into your “him” — whatever or whoever that represents in your life today.
To fully grasp the power behind the declaration “But I believe God will raise him again,” we must journey through the Scriptures and see how God has consistently turned death into life. This is not a new idea invented by desperate people; it is the heartbeat of the gospel itself. Let us begin where our memory verse is rooted — the story of Lazarus in John chapter 11.
Lazarus, the beloved brother of Mary and Martha, fell gravely ill. The sisters, knowing Jesus’ love for their family, sent word: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” They expected Jesus to come quickly and heal him. Instead, Jesus deliberately delayed. By the time He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. The body was decaying. The mourners had gathered. Hope seemed utterly extinguished.
Martha met Jesus first with a mixture of grief and lingering faith. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Notice her words — “even now.” Even after death. Even after the funeral. Even after the stone was rolled over the tomb. Even after the smell of decay filled the air. That is the spirit we are studying today. Martha did not understand everything, but she believed God could still move. Jesus responded, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha replied with what she had been taught in the synagogue: “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” She had future hope, but Jesus wanted her to have present power. That is when He declared the words we hold as our memory verse: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Jesus did not say, “I will bring resurrection someday.” He said, “I am.” Right now. In this moment. In your situation. He is not only the One who will raise the dead at the end of time; He is the resurrection itself. Whoever believes in Him, though they die, yet shall they live. This is the foundation of our confession. When you say, “But I believe God will raise him again,” you are not hoping in a future distant event alone. You are declaring that the I AM is standing at the entrance of your tomb today.
Let us linger here a little longer because this story reveals so much about how God works. Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away. Martha objected — “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” How often do we do the same? We believe in theory, but when Jesus says, “Remove the stone,” we protest because the situation already stinks. The relationship is too broken. The finances are too ruined. The body is too far gone. The dream has been dead too long. Yet Jesus insists. He calls the dead man by name: “Lazarus, come out!” And the man who was dead walked out, still wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus then said, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
This is resurrection in full display. God does not merely revive; He restores. He does not just bring back life; He sets the person free to live again. Your “him” — whether it is a person, a marriage, a ministry, a health condition, or a promise — can walk out of the tomb completely free. The grave clothes of shame, limitation, and past failure must be removed so that new life can be fully embraced.
Now, let us go deeper into the Old Testament to see that this power did not begin with Jesus. God has been raising the dead long before the cross. Consider the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. She had lost everything — famine had taken her food, and now death had taken her only son. She cried out to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?” Elijah took the boy, laid him on his own bed, stretched himself over the child three times, and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” The Bible says the Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned. The widow declared, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
Notice the pattern. Death came. A servant of God cried out. Life returned. Faith was strengthened. The same pattern repeats with the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. She had received a miracle son from Elisha. Then the boy suddenly died in her arms. She did not fall apart publicly. She laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door, and went to find Elisha. When Elisha arrived, he prayed, stretched himself over the boy, and the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Life returned.
These stories teach us that resurrection power often flows through persistent, faith-filled intercession. The prophets did not give up when they saw death. They pressed in until life came back. You and I have something greater than they did — we have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 declares, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The same Spirit that raised Jesus is inside every believer. That means the power to declare “But I believe God will raise him again” is not borrowed from prophets of old; it is resident within you right now.
Let us turn to the ministry of Jesus Himself and see even more examples. In Mark 5, Jairus’ daughter lay dying. Before Jesus could reach her, messengers came saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” Jesus overheard and said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He went into the house, took the girl’s hand, and said, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately she stood up and walked around. Death had declared the end, but Jesus declared a new beginning.
In Luke 7, the widow of Nain was following the funeral procession of her only son. Jesus saw her, had compassion, touched the coffin, and said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead boy sat up and began to talk. The crowd was filled with awe and praised God.
Then we come to the greatest resurrection of all — Jesus Himself. After the crucifixion, the disciples were shattered. Their Master was dead. Their hopes were buried. They hid in fear. But on the third day, the stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. Angels announced, “He is not here; he has risen!” Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Peter, to the eleven, to over five hundred brothers and sisters at once, and finally to Paul on the Damascus road. He ate with them, let them touch His scars, and commissioned them to go into all the world.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. As 1 Corinthians 15:14 says, if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is our faith. But He has been raised! Therefore, our preaching has power and our faith is alive. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Because He lives, every grave in our lives can be opened. Because He lives, we can boldly declare, “But I believe God will raise him again.”
Theological implications run deep here. The resurrection proves that death is not the end. It proves that sin has been defeated. It proves that Satan’s greatest weapon has been disarmed. It proves that God has the final word. In Christ, we have passed from death to life. Ephesians 2:1-6 tells us that we were dead in our transgressions, but God made us alive with Christ and seated us with Him in heavenly realms. Resurrection is not only future; it is present reality for the believer.
Furthermore, the resurrection guarantees our own future resurrection. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 describes the day when the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are still alive will be caught up together with them. What a glorious hope! But we do not have to wait for that day to experience resurrection power. The same power is available now for every area of our lives that feels dead.
Consider how this applies to modern believers. In hospitals across the world, doctors sometimes say, “There is nothing more we can do.” Families stand by bedsides watching monitors flatline. Yet many testimonies exist of people who were declared clinically dead and suddenly revived after prayer. In villages and cities alike, marriages that seemed irreparably broken have been restored when one spouse chose to believe God could raise the relationship again. Ministries that closed their doors in defeat have reopened with greater fire after seasons of prayer and fasting. Dreams that died in the wilderness have sprung to life in unexpected seasons.
Think about the financial tomb many believers find themselves in. Debt piles up like stones over a grave. Hope decays. Yet when we declare, “But I believe God will raise him again” over our finances, testimonies of supernatural debt cancellation, sudden business breakthroughs, and unexpected provision begin to surface. God is Jehovah Jireh — our Provider — and He can resurrect what the locust has eaten.
Even in the area of the soul, resurrection power works. Many people walk around physically alive but spiritually dead — bound by addiction, depression, pornography, anger, or bitterness. The grave clothes are heavy. But one encounter with the resurrection and the life can set them free. Countless former addicts now preach the gospel because someone believed God could raise their life again.
Let us explore the emotional and mental tombs as well. Grief can feel like a permanent burial. The loss of a child, a spouse, a parent, or a close friend can leave a wound that never seems to heal. Yet the God who wept at Lazarus’ tomb also raised him. He understands your tears. He collects them in His bottle. And He can bring joy back to your mourning. Psalm 30:5 reminds us that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Many believers who thought they would never smile again now testify that God turned their mourning into dancing.
In ministry and calling, many servants of God face seasons where their anointing seems dead. The fire on the altar goes out. The words stop flowing. The people stop coming. The vision fades. It feels like the grave has won. But then, in the midnight hour, the Holy Spirit breathes again. Suddenly, fresh oil flows. New songs arise. Souls begin to be saved. The ministry is resurrected with greater glory than before. This is the pattern — death first, then resurrection.
We must also address the corporate aspect. Churches that once thrived can become tombs of tradition and dead religion. Entire denominations can drift into compromise until spiritual life seems gone. Yet history shows revival after revival where God raised dead churches again. The Welsh Revival, the Azusa Street Revival, the East African Revival — all came when believers refused to accept the status quo of death and cried out for resurrection power.
Even nations and communities can experience this. In times of war, famine, corruption, or moral decay, it feels like the land itself is buried. But 2 Chronicles 7:14 promises that if God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from wicked ways, He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Healing is resurrection for a nation.
Now, let us go even deeper into the mechanics of how this faith operates. Faith for resurrection is not passive wishing. It is active believing coupled with obedience. In every biblical example, someone had to do something. Martha had to believe enough to let them roll the stone away. Elijah had to stretch himself over the boy. The Shunammite had to run to the man of God. Jairus had to keep believing even after the bad report. The widow of Nain had to allow Jesus to touch the coffin.
In your situation, what is the stone God is asking you to remove? What is the step of obedience He is calling you to take? Perhaps it is forgiving the person who hurt you. Perhaps it is sowing a seed when you have nothing left. Perhaps it is praising God in the middle of the funeral. Perhaps it is speaking life over the situation when everyone else is speaking death. Whatever it is, your obedience partners with God’s power to bring resurrection.
Another layer is the role of the spoken word. Jesus spoke to Lazarus. Elijah cried out to God. Elisha spoke to the boy. Jesus spoke to the young man and to Jairus’ daughter. There is power in your declaration. When you say out loud, “But I believe God will raise him again,” you are releasing faith into the atmosphere. The enemy trembles when believers speak resurrection life. The Holy Spirit moves when resurrection words are spoken.
Time is not a barrier to God. Lazarus had been dead four days. The Shunammite’s son was already cold. Jesus Himself was in the tomb three days. Your situation may have been dead for years, but God is not bound by calendars. He is the Ancient of Days who stands outside of time. What He promised yesterday is still alive today.
Doubt will try to creep in. Martha doubted at the smell. The disciples doubted when they saw the empty tomb at first. Thomas doubted until he touched the scars. But Jesus meets us in our doubt. He does not condemn it; He invites us to believe. Like He asked Martha, He asks you today, “Do you believe this?” Your answer matters. Your confession shapes your reality.
The resurrection also carries a missional mandate. When Lazarus came out, he became a living testimony. Many Jews believed in Jesus because of him. When the widow’s son lived again, the whole town knew God was real. When Jesus rose, the disciples turned the world upside down. Your resurrected “him” is not just for your comfort; it is for the glory of God and the salvation of others. When God raises your marriage, your health, your business, or your child, the world will see and glorify the Father.
Let us consider the ultimate resurrection — the new heaven and new earth. Revelation 21 describes a day when death will be no more. Every tear wiped away. Every grave permanently empty. Until then, we live in the already-but-not-yet. We experience foretastes of resurrection power now, while we await the fullness later. This tension keeps us hungry for God.
In practical daily life, how does this truth sustain us? When the report comes back negative, we remember Lazarus. When the relationship seems beyond repair, we remember the widow’s son. When our own strength fails, we remember Romans 8:11. When the world says it is over, we say, “But I believe God will raise him again.” This becomes our battle cry in every season.
Furthermore, resurrection power is multiplied when believers come together in agreement. Matthew 18:19-20 promises that where two or three gather in His name, He is there, and whatever they ask will be done. Find others who will agree with you in prayer for your “him.” Share the burden. Lift each other’s faith. Corporate resurrection power is unstoppable.
We must also understand that sometimes resurrection looks different than we expect. The “him” we want raised may not come back in the exact form we imagined. God may resurrect a better version, a greater purpose, or an eternal reward instead. The child may not return to earth but may become a mighty testimony in heaven while God raises something new on earth for the parents. The business that died may not reopen, but a greater calling may be birthed from its ashes. We trust God’s wisdom in how He chooses to display His glory.
The cross and the tomb are inseparable. Before resurrection comes crucifixion. Jesus had to die before He could rise. Lazarus had to die for the greater miracle to occur. Your “him” may have to fully die in your hands before God can raise it His way. Surrender is key. Let go. Place it on the altar. Then watch God move.
Throughout church history, this truth has sustained believers in persecution. Early Christians faced lions, swords, and flames, yet they declared the resurrection boldly. They knew that even if their bodies were killed, they would rise again. Modern martyrs in restricted nations hold the same confession. Their blood becomes seed for revival. Death cannot win.
In our personal walk, we must daily choose this confession. Every morning, before the circumstances speak, let your first words be resurrection words. Every night, before sleep, declare it again. Teach it to your children. Sing it in worship. Write it in your journal. Make “But I believe God will raise him again” the soundtrack of your life.
The deeper we go, the more we realize this is not just a nice devotional thought. It is the very essence of Christianity. Without resurrection, there is no gospel. Without resurrection, there is no hope. Without resurrection, there is no victory. But because of resurrection, we are more than conquerors. We are resurrection people. We carry resurrection power. We speak resurrection life.
Let this explanation sink into your spirit until it becomes part of your DNA. When the next storm comes — and it will — you will not be shaken. You will stand at the tomb and say with boldness, “But I believe God will raise him again.” And He will. He always does.
Let us examine more biblical patterns. In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet saw a valley of dry bones. God asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel wisely answered, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then God commanded him to prophesy. As he spoke, the bones came together, flesh appeared, and breath entered them. A mighty army stood up. Your situation may look like dry bones — scattered, lifeless, hopeless. But the same God who commanded Ezekiel commands you today: prophesy! Speak life! The bones will live.
In the New Testament, Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) in Acts 9. She had died, and the widows were weeping. Peter sent everyone out, knelt down, prayed, and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes and sat up. The church was strengthened. God uses ordinary believers to release resurrection power. You do not need to be a prophet like Elijah. You just need to be filled with the Spirit and bold in faith.
Even in the Old Testament shadows, we see hints. Job declared in the midst of his suffering, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” He believed in resurrection before the cross. How much more should we, who live after the empty tomb, believe?
The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:9 said he had felt the sentence of death so that he would not rely on himself but on God who raises the dead. Your lowest moments are often the setup for the greatest display of resurrection power. When you reach the end of yourself, God begins.
In the book of Revelation, we see the ultimate triumph. The Lamb who was slain is worthy. Death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire. Resurrection is eternal. Every believer will one day stand in a glorified body, never to die again. This future hope fuels our present faith.
Now, apply this to family life. Parents, when your child rebels and seems spiritually dead, do not stop praying. Declare resurrection over their soul. Many prodigals have come home because a mother or father refused to accept the grave. Spouses, when your marriage is on life support, speak life. God can resurrect love that died years ago.
For students and young people, when your dreams for education or career die due to failure or lack of funds, remember the God of resurrection. Many testimonies exist of scholarships coming after all doors closed, or businesses starting from nothing.
For the elderly, when health fails and strength is gone, declare that the resurrection power in you will quicken your mortal body. Many seniors have received renewed strength for their final assignment.
For missionaries and gospel workers, when the harvest seems barren and souls seem unresponsive, remember that God can raise a harvest from stones. The ground may look dead, but one word from heaven can cause sudden revival.
The list is endless because resurrection power is limitless. God is not running out of miracles. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
One more layer: the role of worship in resurrection. In 2 Chronicles 20, when Judah faced an impossible army, they worshipped and God fought for them. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas sang in prison and the prison doors opened. When you feel buried, worship your way out. Praise confuses the enemy and releases resurrection power.
Thanksgiving accelerates it. Even before you see the miracle, thank God in advance like Abraham who “was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
Fasting adds intensity. Jesus said some things only come out by prayer and fasting. When the situation is dead, fast and pray until life returns.
Community multiplies it. Do not fight alone. The early church prayed together for Peter in prison and he was released. Your resurrection miracle may need the agreement of the body of Christ.
Finally, the greatest resurrection is the one happening in you right now. If you have never experienced new birth, today is the day. The Bible says if anyone is in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come. You were dead in sin, but God raised you to new life. That is personal resurrection. And it is available to every person reading this.
This deep explanation has only scratched the surface of the riches in Christ. Meditate on these truths daily. Let them transform how you face every challenge. The grave is not your end. Resurrection is your destiny. Therefore, with unwavering confidence, declare it again and again: “But I believe God will raise him again.”
Today's Advice
1. Speak the declaration daily — out loud — over every dead area of your life.
2. Remove every “stone” of unbelief, unforgiveness, or disobedience that God highlights.
3. Surround yourself with resurrection-minded believers who will agree in prayer.
4. Worship and thank God before the miracle appears.
5. Study every resurrection story in Scripture until faith rises.
6. Obey the next step God shows you, no matter how small.
7. Fast and pray specifically for your “him” until breakthrough comes.
8. Share your testimony once the resurrection happens — it will encourage others.
9. Never accept the finality of death in any area; keep believing.
10. Rest in God’s timing — resurrection always comes at the right moment for maximum glory.
Today's Food for Thought
- What “him” in your life feels most dead right now, and what would change if you truly believed God could raise it?
- How would your daily decisions differ if you lived every day as a resurrection person?
- Where have you been rolling stones back in place instead of letting Jesus call forth life?
- Whose resurrection testimony have you witnessed that can fuel your own faith today?
- If Jesus asked you right now, “Do you believe this?” like He asked Martha, what would your honest answer be?
- How can you begin prophesying life over dry bones in your family, church, or nation?
- What grave clothes are still wrapped around areas God has already resurrected in your life?
- Are you ready to stretch yourself in prayer over dead situations like Elijah did?
- How does the resurrection of Jesus change the way you face your greatest fear?
- What legacy of resurrection faith do you want to leave for the next generation?
Dear friend, the greatest news ever proclaimed is this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for your sins on the cross, was buried, and on the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. He took your place. He paid your debt. He conquered death so that you could have eternal life.
If you have never received this gift, today is the day of your own resurrection. The Bible says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Right now, wherever you are, pray this simple prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me and rose again. I confess I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. Come into my heart, be my Lord and Savior. Raise me from spiritual death to new life. I believe You are the resurrection and the life. From this day, I declare, “But I believe God will raise him again” over every area of my life. Thank You for saving me. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, you are now a new creation. The old is gone; the new has come. Welcome to the family of God! Find a Bible-believing church, get baptized, and begin declaring resurrection life everywhere you go.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the Resurrection and the Life. Right now, I declare with bold faith over every dead situation in my life and in the lives of those reading: But I believe God will raise him again! Breathe Your resurrection power into every tomb. Roll away every stone. Call forth life in Jesus’ name. Let testimonies arise that glorify Your name. Strengthen our faith, remove our doubt, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. We give You all the glory, now and forever. Amen.
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