"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams." (Acts 2:17)

Do you ever wake up from a night of sleep remembering a vivid dream and wonder, “What on earth was that about? What did I eat before my head hit the pillow?” You might talk about it with a friend and laugh it off, or you might go to the web and look up interpretations of those dreams. We live in a time and in a culture that demands proof in order for us to believe something. It eases our anxieties when we are able to validate our experiences. We shy away from being the “odd man out” or being perceived as a little wacky. To believe that God speaks to us in our dreams, unfortunately, tends to fall under the category of “out of the ordinary.” 

But what if God has something to say to us when we are finally still and available? Could it be that He whispers gently to us as we are in the vulnerable state of sleep? Our God, who created our inmost beings, knows our thoughts before we form them into words. 

He is intimately acquainted with us, so why wouldn’t He choose to converse with us, even in our sleep? 

Are our dreams just symptoms of our bodies not being able to slow down or merely a necessary involuntary behavior in order to protect our mental health? While these scenarios might be the case most of the time, what if God, our creator, wants to step into these spaces and speak to us? Are we open to the possibility and willing to listen?

In his great sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter quotes the Prophet Joel, reminding his listeners that in the days following our Lord’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension, “Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). If this is the case, it’s important to stop and pay attention.

Listen to Scriptures that contain God speaking through dreams, like in the lives of Joseph or Daniel. Journal your dreams and consider what God might be saying. Ask God to reveal this to you in His time. He might be telling you that you are loved. He might be asking you to slow down and trust Him. He might even speak to you in a prophetic way. Don’t dismiss what the God of the universe could perhaps be saying to you. Be welcoming and open to the possibility of God speaking to you in your dreams. It may be that He is giving a gift to you - open it up and cherish it.