For Bible references in this video, check the description on YouTube.
Dreams are our brains' way of working out problems and sorting information while we sleep. The secondary visual cortex, which interprets outside visual stimuli, and the brain's limbic system, which controls emotions, go into hyperdrive when we dream. That means our brains are very busy processing memories and thoughts, trying to make sense of things and help us better understand what we have been exposed to and/or experienced.
While dreams are an important part of our mental health, we shouldn't put too much emphasis on interpreting them or attempting to discover deep meaning in them. To be clear, we aren't saying that it is sinful to think about your dreams or consider how your brain is processing thoughts; that is perfectly fine. However, putting a heavy weight of importance on your dreams can distract you from God's truth and take focus away from listening to His voice in your waking hours.
A handful of stories in the Bible tell of times when God spoke to people in dreams. Examples are Joseph, son of Jacob (Genesis 37:5–10); Joseph, the husband of Mary (Matthew 2:12–22); Solomon (1 Kings 3:5–15); and several others (Daniel 2:1; 7:1; Matthew 27:19). A prophecy of the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28), quoted by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:17, mentions God using dreams. So, yes, God can speak through dreams, if He chooses to, but that doesn't mean He will always speak through every dream or regularly give visions through dreams.
We are not a dream interpretation site, but we can assure you that if God does speak to you through a dream, whatever He says will 100% agree with Scripture. The Bible is complete, having revealed everything we need to know from now until eternity. Dreams cannot invalidate or counter the truth and authority of God's Word.
God is our ultimate guide and advisor in life, and we should listen to His direction above all else. As the psalmist says in Psalm 25:4-5, "Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long."
Most of the time, dreams are merely our brains processing through the day's intake of experiences and information. If you feel that God has given you a message through a dream, prayerfully examine the Word of God and make sure your dream agrees with Scripture. If it does, talk to God about what your response should be (James 1:5). In all those Bible stories, whenever anyone experienced a dream from God, God always made the meaning of the dream absolutely clear—whether directly to the person, through an angel, or through another messenger (Genesis 40:5–11; Daniel 2:45; 4:19). When God speaks to us, He makes sure His message is clearly understood, for He is not a god of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
We are not a dream interpretation site, but we can assure you that if God does speak to you through a dream, whatever He says will 100% agree with Scripture. Dreams cannot invalidate the authority of God's Word. God is our ultimate guide and advisor in life, and we should listen to His direction above all else (Psalm 25:4-5). If you feel that God has given you a message through a dream, prayerfully examine the Word of God and make sure your dream agrees with Scripture. If it does, talk to God about what your response should be (James 1:5).
Cat is the web producer and editor of 412teens.org. She is known as "412teens" on the 412teens Discord. She loves audiobooks, feeding the people she cares about, and using Christmas lights to illuminate a room. When Catiana is not cooking, gardening, or practicing creativity, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, five socially-awkward cats, and her amazing friend-amily.
