All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16–17
My lovely angel waited patiently as I willed that spark of courage to stay alive. After taking a slow, calming breath, I began my answer. “I have long believed that God has been speaking to me through mysterious Divine encounters. And, as I guess you already know, I am not alone in this. I have heard stories shared by many others—including family, friends, members of my faith family, and patients I have ministered to. All of us believe that our Creator is speaking to us, and more important that he wants to be heard. I think that my deepest questions are Why is he speaking to us? and What does he want us to know? And, Margaret, there has been an urgent tug on my heart that tells me that the fear of sharing and discussing our encounters with God keeps us from understanding something of crucial importance. That desire you mentioned . . . well, if there are important truths to be learned, I want to discover them and have the courage to share them with others.”
Margaret nodded again. Her eyes sparked with an intensity that had not been there a moment before, and I heard something resembling a low rumble of thunder echo in the distance as she began to speak.
“Your desire to overcome your fear and to talk about how God speaks to you comes from the desire of the Spirit that lives within you to be heard. The Book of Amos counsels, ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, ‘when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.’ Sadly, this is true for a great many people in the world you live in. Many are not listening, or are afraid to listen for the Creator’s voice.
“But you, Jenn, are listening. I cannot tell you how much that pleases Our Father! God is speaking to you. People all over the world, every day, experience Divine encounters in many different ways. Some recognize the truth of these encounters and give wonderful testimonies, but a great many more do not. Their experiences are discounted as conscience, coincidence, intuition, or imagination. It is imperative, dear child, that all the people of the earth listen to God’s voice, because he is the source of life and truth.
“Your own encounters with the realm of heaven have helped you to develop a very personal sense about who God is and how he speaks to you. Would you share a few of your insights with me now?”
I thought for a moment, and then I began to describe some of my most treasured impressions. “For me, discovering God and hearing his voice was not a thunderous-voice-booming-from-the-clouds event. Instead, God made himself known gently and gradually as I grew up. Then, as I actively began to seek a full-blown relationship with him, I began to experience God on an entirely different level. His presence, and his communication with me, grew in depth and intensity.
“As I have lived my life, particularly during the trials, struggles, and disappointments, God has made his presence known in beautiful, and mysterious, ways. It seems every time God shows up in one of those heavenly intersections, something happens that goes beyond the world’s definition of normal. At first, this was frightening and confusing, but eventually, his presence and the way he communicates with me became a part of who I am. Sometimes I am comfortable with that, and sometimes not so much. But I do know this: There has to be a reason for what God is doing in my life.”
Margaret reached over and gave my hand an encouraging squeeze. “There certainly is a reason, my girl!” she exclaimed. “And we will get to that later. Right now I want you tell me a little more about these mysterious ways God speaks to you.”
I felt the familiar fear of discussing this subject try to resurface, and this time I ignored it. “One of the most powerful ways God speaks to me is through dream visions, which began in my teenage years. This is difficult to talk about because many people just don’t believe this can happen. But I know visions do happen. I have experienced them for many years—they are powerful—and I know without question God is speaking to me. For reasons of his own, God decided to communicate with me primarily while I sleep.”
I shot a rueful glance at Margaret. “Probably,” I said with a sigh, “because my waking mind is far too cluttered with everyday trivialities.” Margaret made a noise, something between a snicker and a snort. She obviously knew me pretty well.
“Child,” Margaret said fondly, “you are describing what we in heaven call the giftings—the gifts of the Spirit that God provides to help you live the life he has ordained for you. Your dream visions are one of these gifts. God has very specific reasons for the gifts he gives to each of his children. He knows you intimately and he gifts accordingly. And while it may take a lifetime to understand and to use them, be assured that these wonderful and mysterious gifts are living proof that God is truly with you.”
The truth in her words sent a delicious shiver through me. Margaret smiled and her intense blue eyes looked deeply into mine. “Your own assurance that your encounters and gifts are real is all you need to begin this journey with me. As for the others you mention who doubt—people will always question what they do not experience or do not understand. That is human nature. All of God’s children have the ability to encounter the Divine but must have hearts and minds that are open to the possibility. It is the nature of God to faithfully pursue the human heart, and when one becomes open and vulnerable to him, well, that, my girl, is when miracles happen. Anything is possible for one who is willing to believe.
“This brings us to the beginning of our journey, Jenn, and we both have our assignments. I am to guide you in the discovery of the deep and timeless truths God is revealing, and you are to put away your fears and embrace the concept that heaven is closer than you think. To do this, you must give yourself permission to approach our journey with the faith of a child—with trust, expectation, and belief.
“Listen, now, and be encouraged by a passage from Scripture that will start us off splendidly. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, ‘The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.’ How wonderful it is that you have the desire to discover and to share with others Divine truths as they are revealed to you! I say we approach this assignment with joy and great anticipation. Are you ready?”
“ I . . . think so,” I said slowly, “but how do we begin?”
I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights because Margaret laughed and said, “We will start at the very beginning, of course. We begin with the faith of a child.”
Margaret clapped her hands and a loud crack filled the air around us, accompanied by that same rumble of distant thunder. A mysterious door had just been flung open, and I knew that our journey had begun.