God gave me an awesome dream and it was exactly what I needed. If you know me personally , you know that my dad died a few months ago, June 22nd to be exact. It doesn't feel like it has been that long at all because it is still fresh. I try not to think about it because I still get really emotional. I have experienced death before but never the death of a parent.
Experiencing the loss of a parent is just different and I never expected it to affect me the way that it has. Being a nurse, I had a really analytical way of thinking about his illness. I knew it would most likely lead to his death. I actually thought I had a good handle on the situation. But when it came time for him to start the process of leaving...that thing messed me up. I now have a new empathy and my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a parent.
Since my dad died, I had been asking God if he was alright. I know that God hears my prayers and I really wanted to hear directly from Him. So many times people die and we put them in Heaven. I wanted to know absolutely for sure that my dad was alright. I didn't want to bug God about it but this was a part of my daily prayer, "God, is he alright?"
God finally answered me 9 days ago in a dream. In the dream, I was at home with my husband and I noticed this door in our house. This door was humongous. It looked like something that would be in a factory. Big, metallic with huge chain links that I could tell had to be used to open it. I could tell that nothing could get through this door. If the entire earth flooded not a drop of water would get through this door.
At some point I noticed that the door was partially opened, just enough to get through. My husband went through and I followed. When I went in I entered into a space that looked like a patio area but it had huge curtains hanging around on every side. I could only see a glimpse outside of the curtain by viewing the very bottom of the curtains. There was just enough space there to see that outside the curtain was a sunny grassy area.
At this point is when I realized that Joe was here with me (that's my dad). We talked and talked. Everything was so normal and casual. I can't remember anything that we talked about except for one small part of our conversation. While we were talking , he was busy doing something and I noticed a container off to the side. In this container were two of his shirts. Both long sleeve, button up shirts, perfect for the fall weather.
As I grabbed the shirts, he told me that 'momma' ( my mom), had put those shirts in there. I knew that she was getting rid of these shirts. So I grabbed them and decided that I wanted to keep them. One of the shirts I decided that I was going to do a project that I saw on Pinterest. To change the shirt up a bit and the other one I told him that I was going to keep it just because it really made me think of Him.
Not long after this part of the dream I woke up realizing that I had finally had my 'Joe dream'. I woke up with complete peace just knowing that he was okay. I started thinking about all the symbolism in the dream...the door, the veiled off space that I call the in between place. Not quite in my home but not outside in the sunny grassy place either. I felt that in order for us to speak, my dad couldn't come to me and I couldn't go to him, we had to meet in this 'in between place'.
The weirdest part of this dream was that, I wasn't allowed to see him. Even though we were allowed to be in this place together. Able to spend time and talk. I knew he was there, I heard his voice and I felt his presence. In the dream everything seemed natural and normal. But it wasn't until I woke up that I realized that I never laid eyes on him.
Now let me tell you the kicker of this story, the major confirmation I received. The reason I know even more that this dream came from God. Later that day, I called my mom and told her about my dream, I told her everything except for the conversation that I had with Joe. She told me that she has two of his shirts in a bag that she was preparing to give away. I immediately asked her if one of the shirts were plaid? And she said yes, they were both long sleeved button up flannel shirts. I was amazed Joe had basically told me that Mommy was getting rid of two of his shirts. I told her what Joe said and we were both amazed, needless to says I asked her to send me those shirts and she agreed.
I am astounded at God and how he does things. This dream served a duo purpose for me as well. I had been going through a spell where God was being quiet. I wasn't hearing anything from Him. In a relationship with God that happens sometimes. Sometimes I can hear from Him so clearly but there are also seasons where He seems so far away. That night before I went to sleep, I remember asking Him to respond to me, in some type of way. Receiving this dream answered my prayers and also let me know that He heard me and had been listening the whole time. God is so good. Don't be afraid to ask Him for what you want...He's listening.
1 John 5:14-15 14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.
Job 33:14-18 14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Acts 2:17 17"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Numbers 12:6 6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Joel 2:28 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Matthew 1:20-23 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.