I have cousin who was in a car accident over thirty year ago and she keeps asking me the question when will God let her walk again? She wonders why it is taking so long. I had a dream, over thirty years ago, that she was going to walk in my dream. And I can see that she has come a long way since thirty years ago.

God does not always choose to heal us. The Apostle Paul was a faithful Christian, yet God did not heal Paul. 2 Cor. 12:7- "…a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Bible scholars suggest the thorn in the flesh was poor eyesight. After Saul saw Jesus, he was blinded (Acts 9:8). Even though some of Paul's eyesight was returned (Acts 9:18), his vision was still poor. In Gal. 6:11, Paul says, "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand." This faithful Apostle preached and wrote letters and served the Lord wholeheartedly. His life would have been much easier if he had had good eyesight. So, he asked God three times to remove this thorn in his flesh. Yet God did not heal him. What was Paul's reaction? Paul learned the God's power is made perfect in weakness. And Paul chose to "boast" of his weaknesses "so that the power of Christ" could rest upon him. What a beautiful example.

The Apostle James says something similar. James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Yes, trials, including physical problems, test our faith. These tests develop our characters and transform us into mature Christians. Your cousin would feel happier if she could recognize God is using her trials to pour out His blessings on her. God loves her!

Even though you had a dream that your cousin would walk again, our dreams are not necessarily a communication from God. Dreams reflect what is troubling our hearts and minds. I'm sure you've experienced dreams that were not prophecies from God but merely stories symbolizing our worries. I would suggest that after your cousin's accident, you felt sad and sympathetic. Your great hope that she might walk again was your heart's desire expressed in your dream.