Expert: Mel and Guyna Horne - 9/17/2007

Question
I went a long time in my life questioning if there was a God.  I have a very spiritual brother and I envy that he is "right with God."  I have done a lot of bad things in my life but have tried to overcome my past and take a step in the right direction.  Since then I have had dreams that I have either been told that God is upset with me or that the end of the world occurs and I am really afraid because I don't know where I am going.  I hear loud trumpets and the sky opens and I hit my knees and feel like I am going to be sick.  Do you think God is trying to tell me something?

Answer
Hi  Karminn,

" And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls [to me]. And he divided unto them [his] living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his possessions with wasteful  living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want (no food, no money). And he went and joined himself (servant) to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no one gave him anything. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.  And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and pleaded with him. And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve you,  I never transgressed your commandments: and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this this son of yours came,  who has devoured your livelihood with harlots,  you have killed the fatted calf for him.  And he said unto him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right  that we should make merry, and be glad: for your brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."   Luke 15:11-32

Karminn,  like the example of the lost son in the account in Luke,  you have admitted that you  have made mistakes in your life and that you are now willing to change.  Hopefully you have talked to God and admitted that you were wrong and have asked for His forgiveness.  If you have sincerely asked God forgiveness for your sins, including doubting that He exists, then God, like the father in Luke, will be very happy and not upset with you.

"I say to you that likewise there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  Luke 15:10

Just a suggestion, you might want to make sure that you do not compare yourself to your brother or envy him.  We are not to compare ourselves to anyone else but Christ.  It is His example that we are to follow.  Envy over something or someone else is a sin and something you should ask God's forgiveness.

"....and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, (rejected God)  God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, ......maliciousness; full of envy....haters of God..." Romans 1:28-32

In your dreams do you know who is telling you that God is unhappy with you?  Ask yourself who stands to lose if you choose God's way of life?  Especially since we have already proven that God and His angels rejoice when a sinner repents.   Make sure that you have sincerely repented and are not lying to yourself and are fully and whole-heartedly repenting.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent. " Revelation 3:19

Christ, even though He was filled with God's spirit, was tempted by Satan.  Satan tried to get Christ to reject God and to follow him.

" Then Christ said to him, "Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."  Matthew 4:10

As you probably already know, people dream for a number of different reasons and not all dreams come from God or Satan.  Individuals can have dreams that are caused by stress, physical or emotional problems, or something as simple as something that was read in a book or on the internet or seen on TV.

The best thing to do is to ask God for wisdom, understanding and protection and learn to have faith and depend on Him.  It takes patience, it doesn't happen all at once.

"Blessed is the man who You instruct, O Lord......Psalms 94:12

"...Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.  In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul " (entire being). Psalms 94:18-19

" Get wisdom!  Get understanding!  Do not forget, nor turn away from the works of my mouth...." Proverbs 4:1-27

If you have sincerely repented and ask God for forgiveness then He is not upset with you nor will He allow anyone, including Satan, to test you with anything more than you can handle.

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:29-30

Whether your dreams are the result of God telling you something,  Satan trying to discourage you from learning to live God's way of life or some other cause, it is up to you to ask for wisdom and understanding from God and to be patient and learn.  Make sure that you are going in the direction in which God directs you and trust Him to lead you.

"Test all things; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil."  2 Thessalonians 5:21-22

My husband and I are here to help and guide, but we would not expect you to take our word only, or the word of anyone else, without asking God for understanding and by using the Bible to prove what we or someone else have told to you.

I hope this has helped you and please feel free to write to us anytime, that is why we are here.

Guyna Horne