Have there ever been dreams so real that you think they might be delivering a private message? You may have been awake when you saw or sensed something so strong, it felt like a connection to the divine. Perhaps when those strange, quiet times happened, you occasionally found yourself wondering if God was trying to talk to you.
Instead of only speaking through miracles and storms, God has revealed himself through dreams in the quiet darkness and through visions during routine days. We notice in the visions of Joseph and John that God is always ready to communicate. Sometimes, He talks with us out loud, and other times, He gently nudges us in our dreams.
What is it like today? In our noisy, distracted world, can dreams and visions still mean anything in the Bible? Do God’s words continue to come through them—or are they just made up by our minds?
Have there ever been dreams so real that you think they might be delivering a private message? You may have been awake when you saw or sensed something so strong, it felt like a connection to the divine. Perhaps when those strange, quiet times happened, you occasionally found yourself wondering if God was trying to talk to you.
Instead of only speaking through miracles and storms, God has revealed himself through dreams in the quiet darkness and through visions during routine days. We notice in the visions of Joseph and John that God is always ready to communicate. Sometimes, He talks with us out loud and other times He gently nudges us in our dreams.
What is it like today? In our noisy, distracted world, can dreams and visions still mean anything in the Bible? Do God’s words continue to come through them—or are they just made up by our minds?
Get ready to view your dreams differently. What if God has been speaking every day and all we’ve needed to do is listen?
Biblical Meaning of Dreams and Visions Today: Are They Still Speaking?
1. Dreams and Visions Found in the Bible Follow a Pattern of God at Work
From the beginning to the end of the Bible, dreams and visions are how God teaches us what He desires.
In Genesis 37, we read about Joseph, a young man whose visions created conflicts—yet all came to pass in God’s timing.
Daniel (Daniel 2 & 7): A prophet who explained the meaning of dreams in ways that changed the direction of kingdoms.
As a result of God’s guidance, Peter and Cornelius brought Jews and Gentiles together (see Acts 10).
What John saw on Patmos resulted in the book of Revelation which is still meaningful to believers.
Nothing about this could be chalked up to chance at all. Messages came down from heaven to people through God’s angels. It is easy to see from the story that dreams and visions are how God speaks.
2. Can You Tell the Difference Between a Dream and a Vision?
Even though dreams and visions are frequently mentioned at the same time, there is a difference between them:
Most dreams happen while we are asleep. Sometimes, they are expressed as symbols, figurative words, or made clear directly.
Often, visions appear while someone is awake—we can feel them as experiences that come to our heart or mind in a form closer to a real movie.
In ages past, God made use of both. At times, He showed things symbolically (like with the wheat in Joseph’s dream), and at other times He gave straightforward advice (as He did when He appeared to Paul in a vision and told him what not to do).
The takeaway? Visions and dreams may be messages from God, but always check with Him about it.
3. Are Dreams and Visions a Means Through Which God Communicates With People Now?
Absolutely.
In Acts 2:17, Peter recited the vision of the prophet Joel: God tells us that in the end, his Spirit will be poured out on everyone. In the future, words from God will be given to your children, visions will be given to your youth, and your elderly will have dreams sent to them.
It wasn’t only meant for the past but also the present. Nowadays, the “last days” have begun. The Holy Spirit is always active. God still speaks to us despite everything. The words spoken by Joseph, Daniel, and John come from the same God who is still speaking to us.
Christians around the globe regularly have dreams or visions that direct, protect, or influence their choices and actions. Where Bibles cannot be found and pastors are under threat, people receive Jesus in their dreams and He leads them to Christian service.
4. How to Identify a Dream Given By God
All dreams are not from God. Frequently, our dreams are related to what we feel, go through, or eat during the day or evening before. What methods can you use to see if a dream is from God?
These are biblical tests you can use:
A. It is in agreement with Scripture.
God never goes against His own words. If something a person sees in a dream or vision doesn’t agree with God’s Word, it’s not from God.
Never change what I have commanded you and do not take things away from it… – Deuteronomy 4:2
B. It Helps You Grow Closer to God
God-given dreams are designed to point you toward repentance, obedience, or closer worship.
C. It Helps You Feel Peaceful
When the dream is meant to alert us, God’s message is peaceful and straightforward.
God creates peace rather than confusion… – 1 Corinthians 14:33
D. It’s Confirmed
Often, God backs up His message with Scripture or with guidance from a sermon or spiritual mentor. He could have the same dream more than once.
5. Why does God Continue to Use Dreams and Visions?
Dreams and visions have a spiritual role, but they mainly help transform us. I believe God keeps them in use for a good reason today.
A. To Call at Your Side
Like Samuel, God can call you to a role or responsibility in His Kingdom.
B. To let you be aware
He might inform you of risks or the plans of certain people—so you’re safe—not to scare you.
C. Disclosing Information
At times, God shows us truths we couldn’t discover on our own. As a result, we build our trust and rely on Him more.
D. To Provide You with Peace
Should someone feel grief, confusion, or loneliness, a vision or dream from God will often bring peace and hope.
6. Real Accounts: Meeting God in the Present
Nowadays, millions of people across the world have experienced dreams with meanings from God. Some of the usual themes include:
A. Jesus Appearing in Dreams
In Muslim nations, many have come to faith in Christ after dreams where Jesus appeared, called them by name, and revealed Himself as Lord.
B. Prophetic Dreams
Some believers report dreams about coming events—personal or global—that later come to pass.
C. Directional Visions
Visions that people experience can inspire them to change their careers, settle in another city, or begin ministerial work.
These don’t only come from feelings—they are signs from God showing the way He wants us to go.
7. Steps You Should Take if a Dream or Vision Happens
If a dream or vision feels special to you, take it seriously. Here’s what the Bible advises you to do about it:
- Write It Down
Keep a dream journal. Even the details that seem strange can be symbolic and meaningful later.
- Pray About It
Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. God loves to give clarity when we seek Him.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” – James 1:5
- Study Scripture
Look for patterns, symbols, and meanings in the Bible that align with your dream. God often uses similar imagery (like rivers, fire, or specific numbers).
- Seek Godly Counsel
Share the dream with a mature believer or spiritual leader. Sometimes God gives interpretation through others—like He did with Joseph and Daniel.
- Don’t Chase After Your Dreams; Instead, Chase God.
Although visions and dreams inspire us, they should not be our focus; God is the end goal.
It’s not uncommon for people to focus too much on dreams and miss the real point. The Bible alerts its readers about false prophets and false signs. For this reason, getting to know Scripture is essential.
Even the devil can appear to be an angel. – 2 Corinthians 11:14
Use caution. Stay humble. Make sure the Holy Spirit directs all you do.
Final Thoughts: God continues to speak; the question is, Are You Listening?
When we are struggling, anxious about tomorrow, or face many problems, knowing that God speaks in dreams and visions makes us feel better and excited. It shows us that heaven is still there. The same One who spoke loudly to the Israelites and was a quiet voice to Elijah is speaking with us still, at night as well as during the day.
Dreams and visions matter now just as they did in the past. They are living, real examples of God’s care for us and are meant to steer us, offer advice, strengthen us, and make us feel alive. They manage to slip past the usual noise in our lives and touch our innermost thoughts, sometimes arriving when we don’t expect it. Now and then, God reaches out when we are too tired to pray, too worried to pay attention, or not fully conscious of His presence. Even so, He meets us in our dreams.
If you’ve ever had a dream that stayed in your mind for a while after waking…
Should a vision ever touch your heart more deeply than anything you heard from a sermon…
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Could this be You, Lord?” — then understand this:
You’re in good company.
You haven’t gone mad.
You haven’t been forgotten.
Even now, God can and does reveal His plans to people through the peaceful language of dreams and visions, not only speaking through preachers and prophets. You don’t have to be exceptionally spiritual to receive God’s grace. Just be willing to listen to what He says, be Saturday there for Him, and want to know Him better.
Keep in mind, that the God who made the universe might be trying to reach you, even while you sleep. Such an amazing love! How untiring in their efforts! How wonderful this mystery is!
So, if you get a divine nudge, don’t ignore it. Allow yourself to be motivated by the goals that stick with you. Record them in your notebook. Pray for them. Try to gather wisdom and insight. The inspiration for your future could come from revelation, not from just chance.
As Job 33:14-15 says: “For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.”
Yes, we can still hear God’s voice.
Dreams are still worthwhile.
Absolutely—God might be speaking to you just as easily as He spoke to her.
It’s not a question of whether God is speaking.
It comes down to whether you’re able to truly listen.
You can also read up: Why God Has Been Silent Lately – And What That Silence Means