Understanding the difference between biblical faith and presumption? Dreams, Visions, and Experiences Part 1

1 Now faith is the substance (confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

There’s a woman in the church who has four beautiful children whose husband has recently abandoned the family. By all accounts, the woman was faithful and virtuous, honoring God, her husband and lovingly caring for the children. Because of her loss, she begins to grieve uncontrollably, and depression soon sets in. Despondent, lonely, fearful of what will become of her and the children, which is all natural occurrences in such a gloomy situation. She continues to attend church faithfully, yet her countenance no matter how much she attempts to cover it, is downcast from her broken heart and fears.  

The pastor does all he can to assure her that the Lord God has not forsaken her and the children. That she can depend upon God as they struggle just to meet the bare necessities of life, often receiving aid from family, friends, neighbors, the church, and the government.

Then months later one faithful Sunday, she enters the church with a spring in her steps, her face and hair prepared as if for a bride, that great big, beautiful smile that everyone was accustomed to seeing on her face was back!

With great glee and joy of heart the pastor rushes over to greet her to find out what happened that has caused such a miraculous change in her life. Could it be that the prayers everyone has bombarded heaven with and the tears she has cried over the past six months reached the pinnacle of the throne of God who in turn has poured down out of heaven such a blessing that she could not contain it? All waited with bated breath to hear how the hand of God moved mightily in her and the family’s life.

Without hesitation the pastor eagerly calls her up to the pulpit to provide testimony to the church concerning the good things that the Lord has done on her behalf.

She began by rehearsing all the terrible things that has transpired over the past six months. Beginning with how despondent and combative her husband had become until the day he abandoned her and the children. She discussed all the hardships of not having the emotional, financial, and parental support of a godly spouse. She spoke of the betrayal, frustrations, bitterness, and emotional rollercoaster that tormented her soul day and night. She confessed to doubting her salvation, questioning the fairness of God, the why me Lord, the what have I done to deserve this Lord, the where are you Lord questions that lifted up to heaven soaked in her own tears and sorrow of heart.

The nights when she wondered how the children will be fed, how we will cover next month’s rent, how I will pay the upcoming bills, what if I become ill, how what will happen to my children. Oh, the pain, the agony, the hopelessness of helplessness, the blackness of darkness I found myself in day after day, night after night without any sense of direction from nor any communication from God. Why has He forsaken me? Why Lord? 

She wipes away the tears, taking a moment to reflect. Then sighs, looks up with a smile and then jubilantly begins to tell of how the Lord has brought her back from the brink of hopelessness.

One day, she proclaimed, as I was on my face before the Lord in prayer, the doorbell rang. My first thought was to not respond as I was pouring out my soul unto the Lord seeking His allusive guidance and response to my desperate situation and my grievances with His lack of response to His daughter. Nevertheless, the visitor was persistent therefore I arose and was astonished to see another beloved sister in faith standing at the door who seemed to be enthused at the opportunity to speak with me.

She enters with such excited proclaiming how the Lord has provided the answer to my prayer then she began to communicate to me all the things the Lord had shown her in a dream or vision. She told me that the Lord showed her how my husband was broken over the situation and trying to figure out a way to come back home, undoing the wrongs   committed before the Lord, to me and the children. In the dream my husband would be coming back to us in several weeks therefore I was to prepare myself for this joyous reunion by offering up prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord instead of tears of sorrow and sadness.

Oh pastor, she proclaimed with a Lord voice, God has really answered our prayers! What a wonderful God we serve.

Most would say, amen. This is where most people live.