Common Good

Back to Housing Crisis, Affordability and Long-Term Reform

Hope and Restoration in Housing

Christ the KingHousing Crisis, Affordability and Long-Term Reform Week 46 · Day 7

Scripture References

Read First

Old Testament

Ezekiel 37:1-14

¹ The LORD’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in the LORD’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.
² He caused me to pass by them all around; and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry.
³ He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord GOD, you know.”

Read 11 more verses

⁴ Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear the LORD’s word.
⁵ The Lord GOD says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.
⁶ I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”
⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.
⁸ I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”
¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
¹¹ Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’
¹² Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
¹³ You will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.
¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”

New Testament

Romans 8:18-25

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed towards us.
¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
²⁰ For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

Read 5 more verses

²¹ that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
²² For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
²³ Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
²⁴ For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
²⁵ But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

Thought for the Day

Ezekiel is led into a valley full of bones: not a small loss, but a whole landscape of death. And the Lord asks a question that sounds almost cruel: can these bones live? The prophet learns to speak hope into impossibility, not as denial, but as obedience to God’s word.

So we can work without despair. We can plan and build without pretending we are saviours. We can lament what is broken without handing our hearts to cynicism.

Show 124 more words

Romans 8 names the ache behind so much housing insecurity: the world is groaning. Creation itself longs for liberation. We groan too, waiting for adoption’s fullness, for redemption that reaches all the way into bodies and streets. Christian hope is not escapism. It is a stubborn confidence that God’s future is real.

Lord, breathe on what feels dead. Bring life where neighbourhoods have been hollowed out and where families are exhausted by uncertainty. Strengthen those who labour for housing that is safe, affordable, and stable. Give us patience for long reform, courage for hard truth, and tenderness for those carrying hidden grief. And keep our hope anchored in you: the God who raises dry bones, and the Father whose coming glory will not disappoint.

Prayer Points

Respond

Breathe hope into communities worn down by insecurity, displacement, and housing trauma.
Strengthen those working for safe, affordable, and stable housing with perseverance and integrity.
Comfort families living with hidden grief; provide support, advocacy, and practical help.

Show 2 more prayer points

Teach us patient courage for long-term reform, without cynicism or panic.
Anchor our hope in your promised renewal, as we labour faithfully in the present.

Continue Reading Journey