The mysterious ways God speaks never cease to amaze me.
One of the most amazing things I've seen is when God speaks in repetitive coincidences.
Or are they really coincidences? There is no Hebrew word for "coincidence!"
This can look like:
Catching the clock repeatedly at 11:11.
Or seeing the same blue butterflies everywhere.
Or finding the same Bible verse again and again without trying.
It doesn't have to be complicated to hear God speak.
He is getting our attention in 1,000 different ways.
For the past two weeks, I have had a specific theme coming up over and over again. Through encouragement from friends, song lyrics, the pages of books, and movie scenes. The phrase I have seen time and time again is: It's always darkest before the dawn.
Let's take a look at what this could mean...
It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn
Thomas Fuller is the earliest known originator of this popular phrase.
The ironic thing is, it's actually scientifically darkest at midnight, not right before the dawn. What's interesting about this fact, is God has been speaking to me about the miracles and breakthroughs that take place at midnight! Check out my Instagram page about my recent word called God of the Midnight Hour to read more.
Although the hour right before dawn is not the darkest, the meaning of the phrase remains the same:
It can seem the hardest right before the breakthrough comes.
When things are at their worst, the miracle comes.
The dark pit comes before the palace. Just ask Joseph.
Etc.
You get the picture!
Now let's talk about how I felt the Lord give me this word and what He could be saying.
Prophetic Word: The Dawn is Coming!
I am currently working on a special writing project in which I recount a walk of faith that includes a lot of supernatural testimonies. While I was working on it other night, I wrote about a dream I had many years ago about God's timing. Throuought the dream, the theme was that I couldn't get what God had for me until the morning arrived. Until then, the promises were being protected. I just couldn't access them yet because isn't wasn't time. The next morning, a friend of mine, Danielle, sent me a message saying, “Dawn is coming! “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3 Dawn: the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise. “the rose-pink light of dawn” Similar: Daybreak Break of day Crack of dawn Sunrise First light daylight First thing in the morning Early morning cockcrow Sunup Dawning Peep of day Aurora Dayspring
2. The beginning of a phenomenon or a period of time, especially one considered favorable. “The dawn of civilization” Similar: Beginning Start birth inception conception genesis emergence advent coming appearance debut arrival dawning
rise
starting point
Launch
inauguration
opening
initiation
unfolding
development
infancy
day one
kickoff...
a new day!!!”
Both of these two definitions are incredibly meaningful, if we take time to analyze how the Holy Spirit may be encouraging us.
Dawn not only represents a time of day, but it marks a new beginning.
Could it be that the timing of God is coming? Will there be an unfolding of God's work that's been taking place in the dark? Just because it's dark outside and you can't see what God is doing, even if it feels like time is up for your miracle-breakthrough: have heart that it is DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN! This is about acknowledging the current season we are in. It's like God may be saying, "Yes, I know it is dark right now. I know it is hard. I know you literally can't see a way. but let this be a sign to you that your dawn is coming! There is an end to the dark night!" Take a moment to hear what the Holy Spirit may be saying personally to you.
Divine Coincidences
As I first mentioned, God often speaks in repeated divine coincidences. I wanted to share a little bit more of my prophetic process with you, so you can grow in hearing God, too! After my friend sent me the "dawn is coming" message, I began to hear the phrase "it's always darkest before the dawn" in the most unusual and random ways. First, I was having coffee with a friend. We were in the middle of a conversation when suddenly the song that was playing quietly in the coffee shop seemed to amplify in my ear just to hear these lyrics, "But it's always darkest before the dawn!" It's like the Holy Spirit ignited hope in my heart when I heard this phrase! I sat down to write this word, and kept getting discouraged. Was I really hearing from God? I stopped writing. A few days later, I was reading a book, and once again, it's as if the phrase leapt off the page, "In the dark hour before the dawn..." Once again, I started to ask God what he may be saying, but I became doubtful. It is a journey listening to the Holy Spirit and agreeing with Him to get our own hopes up in a hard season. It is a process learning to discern his voice. That should have been enough, but a few days later, I had a movie on called Christmas on the Square. I was mainly working on my computer and not paying attention to the movie, when all of the sudden, I heard the phrase again through one of the characters in the scene, as though amplified in my ears: "It's like they say, it's always darkest before..." She didn't finish the phrase, but I knew exactly what she meant. Now the scene had my full attention. The character is a secretary, and she was encouraging the main character in the story. She goes on to say, "You [took matters into your own hands] because you didn't know the plan was already in motion. Sometimes we miss the angels who are there when you don't even know it..." Isn't it awe-inspiring how many unique ways God will use to get our attention? This time, I felt like God was not only saying it is darkest before the dawn, but that He is working in the dark. If only we could see what God is doing behind the scenes with the help of angelic assistance, we wouldn't take matters into our own hands. We wouldn't be hopeless. All because we would know and trust a SOLUTION is coming. A breakthrough is NEAR. Morning is about to BREAK.
Elisha Prays
This reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6. When the enemy army surrounded them, God brought the breakthrough at dawn.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” "17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (emphasis mine) This incredible story gives us so much hope. We may be surrounded on every side, but God will give us eyes to see in the dark. He is able to bring the breakthrough at dawn. There are more for us than against us. He has angels on assignment. What's more, is we can pray for God to give us eyes to see what He is doing!
More Victories at Dawn
I started doing some digging, and I found some incredible truths.
Time and again throughout Scripture, ground-breaking, unusual victory often came at the break of day.
Victory at Dawn: Daniel and the Lions' den
First, let's take a look at a well-known victory found in Daniel chapter 6. We know what happened. The king threw Daniel and his friends to their deaths in a lion's den. Talk about dark before the dawn! But look what happens: "At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” Daniel 6:19-22 (emphasis mine) Daniel and his friends were facing a dark moment: they were about to die! However, God's triumphant miracle was revealed at the very light of dawn. Imagine how God will show up in your darkness! Now let's take a look at another popular story.
Victory at Dawn: Jericho
In the story of the battle of Jericho, God had His people do something unusual to capture the city: march around the walls of the city. Once again, victory came at the break of dawn. Let's look at what happened... "Then on the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. That was the only day they circled the city seven times. After the seventh time around, the priests blew the horns, and Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!..." Joshua 6:15-16.
"So when the rams’ horns sounded, the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. Then all the people charged straight into the city and captured it." Joshua 6:20 As we hold fast to God's word (like how He spoke to His people to march around a city 7 times), we can believe God is working through our obedience and our faith - even if we can't see it yet. Like in the story of Jericho, it wasn't about their power, strength, or ability to fight. It was about letting God bring the victory for them in a miraculous way and in his timing. They could have felt foolish marching for days with no breakthrough. Did they believe God would come through or did they doubt? I'm not sure, but they obeyed anyway. What has God spoken to you? Does praying still seem foolish? Trust the One who takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Do not doubt in the dark what God spoke to you in the light.
PRophetic Word: The Dawn is Coming For You
It is easy to give into hopelessness, cynicism, and doubt when God's promises seem farther away than ever. You've waiting, prayed, fasted, cried out to God and wondered if you'll ever see your breakthrough. If this is you, please know that it takes an impossible situation for God to do a miracle! Friend, I know you may feel jaded by recieving the same prophetic words over and over again, but there is still hope. We serve the God of all hope, and he can come through at the very last moment. Sometimes, your breakthrough is set for an appointed time. It's not that you need to strive more, pray more, etc. etc. etc. It's simply that God has a moment planned to let His plans and purposes you come to pass. It's time to stand in agreement with God and not the lies of the enemy. Those lies that easily sneak in when your process has been hard. They will cause anxiety, worry, fear, haste, and the like. God will never come through for you. It's time to take matters into your own hands. You misheard God. You're totally wrong. God has forgotten you. It's time to give up now.
Remember these important words:
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God..." 1 John 4:1
Hold fast to the promises of God when it's dark out. Remember that it is the dark before the dawn. Don't give up or lose heart now.
It may not be happening in your timing, but you don't have to take matters into your own hands if God has spoken. We can look at Abraham and Sarah and Hagar to see how that worked out for them. Yes, there are many times and cirumstances that will require us to move forward in faith and step out in action without knowing if we are taking the right steps. There are times when God requires us to press in for breakthrough until it comes. But there are those promises that await God's dawn. His time. His morning. His way. It takes relationship and communication with Jesus to discern the difference. The good news is, as s child of God, you have free access to that relationship any time you want. Come away with Him and let him speak to you again - promises of hope and truth.
The Dawn is coming for the United States of America
Even as we watch events unfold in our nation now and in the coming months, I believe the dawn will come for America. There is much work God is doing behind the scenes in the darkness, and he brings truth to light so that there may be healing. As we continue to pray for our nation and agree for God to bring healing, awakening, reconciliation, justice, and revival, we must stand firm through the shaking and let Him refine us in the fire. We must ask for an increase of discernment from the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16:13
Why prophesy breakthrough to a nation? We can do a lot of talking and worrying about what is going on, but what if we engaged in the spiritual battle by speaking life, purpose, and hope instead? Will you join me in believing for God to continue to move in a powerful way in America?
Waiting for the Dawn While we wait for the dawn to come, I pray for you - that your faith would be strengthened as you hear God speak to you fresh words for your life.
All the Love,
Mariel
Blog tags:
Prophetic, prophetic words, Prophetic ministry, prophetic word of the year, prophetic gift, daily devotional, prophetic words 2023, prophetic message, prophetic word
