Graves Into Gardens | Reflections by Fellow Dorothy Castelly '21

“I’m feeling a Graves into Garden break.” I received this email from one of my housemates while studying for finals in December. Although she was just in the other room, we were both trying to stay off our phones and thus, email was the best mode of communication. After taking a moment to chat, she pulled out her guitar and we began singing. It was a much-needed break after staring blankly at my computer for a while.

Graves into Gardens has become a song that we’ve turned to at different points during the semester to worship and pour our hearts out to the Lord. But that particular day it was a moment of rest, a time to refocus and recognize the importance of the Lord and His presence. It was a reminder to come back to Him and know that He remains faithful to us.

The song is based on 2 Kings 13 when Elisha passes away and the Israelites bury a man in the same tomb as Elisha. They saw an enemy raiding party and unceremoniously put the dead man there. As soon as he touched the bones of Elisha, he was revived. What happened is not a coincidence, but a miraculous story of God’s might. This shows God’s continuing power at work in Elisha, even after his death.

I wonder what that man’s reaction was. Did he run through his town proclaiming what happened to him? I know if I were brought back to life, I would tell everyone about the miraculous thing that just happened to me. I am reminded that God did the same for all of us. He sent his son Jesus to restore us and to make everything new. The consequence of sin is death, but the story does not end with death, but with Jesus. When we come to Christ and submit our lives to Him, we are a new creation. “the old has gone, the new is here!”[1] This is something that we should celebrate daily—that in Christ we have a new life. 

I also think of areas in my life where God has turned things around and breathed life. Especially right now in a time where every day is similar, expectations are not met, and plans are canceled, it is easy to lose hope. But the song reminds me that God gets the final word. He takes seemingly dead situations and brings life into them—Graves into Gardens. One line that always encourages me is “You turn mourning to dancing,” which references Psalm 30:11. God can turn any sadness that we experience into joy. Eternal joy that comes from him and is not fleeting.

The last line of the song says, “You’re the only one who can.” It is very humbling when I sit and think about God’s power and might. He truly is the only one who works to turn all situations around for our good and is with us, guiding and leading us along the way.

God remains faithful and is in the business of making things new. Nothing is ever too broken for him or beyond His power or might to restore. We can rest in His promises and know that in Him, everything is taken care of.

[1] 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV