14. Dream #3

Written August 30, 2019 and Reposted:

The last and final dream of the night was perhaps the most spiritually significant one that I could recognize. It was one that I believe really illustrated the intense spiritual battle that we each face but even more than that, just how powerful the name of Jesus is when we stand in the authority He has given us.

Dream #3

I was falling backwards down a dark hole/well type place. It appeared as if I was falling in slow motion but soon the falling stopped and I was left suspended mid air looking up. Surrounding me on all sides were hands that started grabbing at me from every direction. Colorless, angry hands desperately trying to get a grip on me somehow with full intention of pulling me down into the darkness below me. Although the desperation of their intent was obvious, the movement itself was more like quicksand slowly grabbing and sliding away. as the hands relentlessly tried again and again to grip me, I recognized that my body never budged in any direction as if I was laying on top of a rock. Over and over again I would hear myself scream STOP! And as I did, a giant tongue like thing wrapped itself around my head. From the back to the front it kept trying to cover my mouth. Each time it reached around, I was able to move my head to one side or another and it pulled back and disappeared. The whole time I was laying there, screaming for it to stop, hands grabbing at me and the tongue like thing trying to cover my screams, I was witnessing it all from above my body looking down watching the whole thing play out and very aware I was in a dream. I remember thinking "I need to wake up" as I watched myself screaming. As the tongue slapped around onto my face again in the scene below, I turned my head to one side and knew what I had to do….this time I screamed "IN THE NAME OF JESUS- STOP!" and everything in an instant was gone. And I woke up.

I have had much time to replay this dream over and over again. Each time I do, it becomes more apparent that fear was being used to get to me in the vulnerability of my sickness and in the darkness of the night. But even more, I felt as if  the enemy was using that fear and intimidation to try to silence me. I wanted to lay there and cry (which I did) I felt defeated and scared. I felt the hopelessness come over me in an instant after waking up. But it didn’t take me long to realize, I couldn’t stay silent. I felt the comforting touch of the Holy Spirit as He reminded me that by the power of His name, the intimidation of the enemy withers away when we bring our fears to light. So, as I wrote before, I reached for my phone, listened to a beautiful song that reminded me just how good God is and made the first official post on social media asking for prayer as I briefly told people of my current situation.  Most people didn’t even know I was in the hospital. Myself and my family were so consumed with everything that was going on, telling people about it was last on our priority. In a way, I felt like it was inappropriate to share as we really didn’t know the outcome of it all. Again, the Lord gently reminded me that I was not meant to stay silent in my suffering...

Up to that point, no one knew when I would be going home. Even the first night I was there, the predicted two days quickly increased to at least three then changed to “soon”.  But the call for prayer was answered. And without knowing it, within 48 hours, I would be walking back up the same steps to my house that started the journey.

I believe this is a message that is not just for me but a powerful reminder for all of God's Church. This is not a time for us to stay silent. This is a time to let Jesus into the parts of our lives we have tried to keep hidden. The parts we have been convinced to stay silent about. The parts that we have been intimidated to not share for fear of what others will think of us instead of recognizing that we are made to help each other through our struggles. What He has done in your life-how he has pulled you from your own struggles is a story worth telling. How your life has changed because of Jesus Christ is not something to keep quiet. The story of YOU that God has given only to you is one that is meant to be told. No one else can reach the people God has planned for you to reach. Do not stay silent anymore. Do not be afraid. Trust that when you open your mouth, God will fill it with his words….nothing less, nothing more.  This is not the time to be intimidated. This is the time to declare his goodness over our lives and over the lives of those we love and watch the darkness and intimidation just melt away and lose its grip on us. The enemy cannot keep us down; the enemy cannot pull us down no matter how hard he tries to grab us….not when we cling to our savior Jesus Christ. It is time to shout his glorious name friends. Don’t be silent anymore.