One of the ways God speaks to us is through dreams. Although this is not the primary way God speaks to me, I have always wished that I would dream more and remember my dreams.
Well, during a short vacation, I noticed that I had several dreams. But these weren’t just any dreams. They were symbolic dreams that pertained to my life.
I believe these dreams were so vivid to me because I was rested, without the pressures of daily life, such as work and other responsibilities. I was also surrounded by nature, enjoying the beauty of the outdoors and the animals around me. When I went to sleep, I had no pressure to wake up early or rush into the demands of the day.
This made me think about how important it is to rest and allow ourselves to be still.
When you find yourself in a season of rest, be prepared to dream. Keep a pen and paper nearby so you can write down your dreams when you wake up. You never know what you may remember or what you may need to take to God in prayer for understanding.
God Speaks Through Dreams and Visions
Job 33:13-17 KJV
“Why dost thou strive against him? For he giveth not account of any of his matters. For God speaketh once, Yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.”
God will sometimes speak to us through dreams to reinforce what He has already been speaking or showing us in our spirit, through that inner witness. He may use a dream to confirm something He has been revealing to us about our lives or what may be ahead.
At other times, He may be showing us areas within ourselves that need attention, including changes we need to make in our character.
Sometimes, God Reveals Hard Truths Through Dreams
Sometimes, hard truths need to be revealed to us, and God may use a dream to help us wrap our heads around an idea or situation.
When you have a dream, you see the picture, but you still need to seek God’s help to interpret that dream and put the pieces together in a way that helps you understand the message and what steps you may need to take in your life.
It is almost as though it can be easier to accept the reality of our faults and the areas where we need to change when the truth comes to us through a dream.
For example, imagine that you are seeing a therapist, counselor, or mentor of some sort, and they point out an area in your life that you need to correct. If someone says this straight out to you, you might take offense to it. As the saying goes, the truth hurts.
People can become upset when someone tells them the truth about an area of their life they may not be willing to face or own up to.
However, when that same truth is revealed to you through a dream that you believe God may be using to speak to you, it can cause you to stop and take a good look at yourself. You may find yourself acknowledging a fault or recognizing that there is, indeed, work you need to do.
Sometimes, we can be so blinded by our own ways that we cannot even see our faults.
The Heart Can Be Deceiving
Jeremiah 17:9 says that the heart is deceitful above all things. This verse teaches us that human nature is prone to self-deception, making it difficult for us to recognize our own hidden motives and the areas in which we may be falling short.
We may sincerely believe that we are doing the right thing, only to discover that our motives, attitudes, or responses need to be examined.
This is why we must remain humble and open to correction. We need to be willing to ask God to search our hearts and reveal anything within us that needs to change.
Sometimes, God may use a dream to bring something to our attention that we have overlooked or have been unwilling to acknowledge. A dream can give us a picture to reflect on, pray about, and bring before Him for understanding.
Of course, not every dream is necessarily a message from God. We should prayerfully seek His wisdom and discernment rather than assume that every dream has a spiritual meaning.
Be Encouraged: God Wants You to Grow
So, keep in mind that sometimes God may bring much-needed, but hard, truths to our attention through dreams.
This is just another way God can speak to us. When we are rested and free from the distractions of daily life, we may find ourselves remembering more of our dreams and having the opportunity to reflect on them.
Be encouraged! When God brings an area of your life to your attention, the purpose is not to condemn you but to help you grow, mature, and move forward.
The next time you go on vacation, spend time in nature, or simply have an opportunity to rest, consider keeping a journal and pen nearby. When you wake up, write down what you remember, even if it seems small or does not make sense at first.
Then take it to God in prayer. Ask Him for wisdom, understanding, and discernment. Compare what you believe you are receiving with His Word, and remain open to what He may be teaching you.
Sometimes, in the stillness of rest, we become more aware of what God may be showing us. So rest, listen, write it down, and seek Him for understanding. You never know what you may discover when you take the time to listen.
