Does God Speak Through Dreams?

The other night I had the strangest dream.

I was getting ready for a funeral. Ironically, I really was attending a funeral just a couple of days later. In my dream, I realized I'd forgotten to pack my nicer sandals, so I had no choice but to wear my beach sandals to the service. It wasn't exactly the look I was going for.

Apparently, shoes were on my mind because the next morning when I woke up early at our camper to get in a quick run, I realized that I had packed my husband's blue shoes instead of my own blue running shoes. Thankfully, I still had an old pair in the closet, so they got one more run before returning to retirement.

All of this had me thinking about dreams in the Bible.

Throughout the Bible, God used dreams to communicate with His people. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and helped save a nation from famine. God warned Joseph, Mary's husband, through dreams to protect Jesus. Daniel interpreted dreams that revealed God's plans. And in Acts 2, Peter quoted the prophet Joel, saying, "Your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

So, should we expect every dream to have a hidden meaning?

Maybe. Maybe not.

The Bible makes it clear that God can speak through dreams. But it also makes something else very clear: His primary way of speaking to us is through His Word.

Most of my dreams are probably just my brain sorting through life—funerals, running, shoes, and the busyness that filled my week.

Maybe the dream didn't mean anything at all. But it did get me thinking about where God has already spoken.

Instead of spending my energy trying to figure out whether every dream has a deeper meaning, I'd rather spend that time reading the Bible every day. I don't have to guess if God has something to say. He's already given us a whole book.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. — 2 Timothy 3:16

So, if you wake up tomorrow remembering a strange dream, don't spend all day trying to figure out what it means. Open your Bible instead. You'll find something even better than an interpretation—you'll hear the truth God has already given us.

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About Make Monday Matter

Make Monday Matter is my weekly Christian devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.