Cindy's Vision of Rest
“God’s promise of entering His rest still stands that some of you might fail to experience it ... God has prepared this rest. For only we who believe can enter His rest ... So God’s rest is there for people to enter,”
Cindy Austermann, United States
I was a young adult when God spoke to me for the first time in a vision. The vision vanished as quickly as it appeared. I had no doubt I had an encounter with God unlike times past. God continually surprises me and He surprised my sister, Cindy, in the middle of her day in a similar fashion.
Cindy has four children and it's rare for her to have the house to herself and even scarcer to have time to take a nap and rest. Her husband, Eric, travels extensively for work, which means she has a lot of juggling to do.
She’s a baseball mom and the majority of her time is spent being a taxi mom and sitting in bleachers. Somehow she finds time to work part time as a fashion stylist. Cindy knows, as do I, a day without prayer and the Word is a day set up for chaos. Time with God puts everything in its place no matter how busy life gets.
Leading up to this particular day, time with God is what prepared her heart to receive this beautiful God-vision. Exhausted, Cindy stopped her daily chores and took an afternoon siesta.
God knows what’s on our hearts before we think it and He knew she needed rest physically, mentally, and spiritually. Psalm 139: 4
She lay on her bed and lifted up her voice to God. She had a simple prayer: "rest, rest, rest."
Immediately upon closing her eyes, still awake, God opened the heavens and she was given a glimpse of God's beautiful presence.
“As soon as I laid in bed I had a vision. I saw a white sheet and there was a stillness. Nothing more.”
Instantly, she was filled with peace to do nothing but bask and rest in God’s presence. Matthew 11:28
When she shared her vision and said, “white sheet,” immediately I thought of God’s robe filling the temple as described in Isaiah 6:1. I didn’t have to see the vision for myself to behold how God had given Cindy a glimpse of His beauty and majesty.
You may have heard the saying, “a picture speaks a thousand words.” God doesn’t need to speak to be heard. He can speak in the silence, and He did.
In the Bible, white expresses the radiance, beauty, purity, and holiness of God. It’s a heavenly color.
Whether or not we hear a word or a sentence in a vision, God conveys a message that is unmistakable. The Bible says that His sheep know His voice. Cindy knew God’s voice during the routine part of her day and that’s how she knew God’s voice in the silence.
People ask, “how do I know God’s voice.” This post isn’t to answer that question in full. However, I will state, it’s simple. Know God’s Word and you’ll know God. When you know God, you’ll hear His voice.
Don’t over analyze and sit wondering if it was God. Sit in a manner that you are in wonder of God.
Read the Word, pray to God, and listen. If you hear God only a little, perhaps it’s because you are with God only a little. Acts 17:27 God is not so far off we don’t know it is Him.
If your vision doesn’t permeate your spirit and soul with peace, I would question it, pray about it, and be cautious. God is supernatural, but so is Satan. Peace is not a characteristic of the devil. Know the Word and you will know when God is speaking.
God’s being is too wonderful to comprehend and yet, He lavishes us with His presence in mysterious, personal, and wonderful ways. Ask for more of God and He will give you more of Himself. Psalm 139:6
Take time to search scripture to support when, how, and why God spoke to people through visions. Below are a few verses to ponder and to open your eyes that God still speaks through visions.
- “His face shone like lightning, and His clothing was as white as snow.” Matthew 28:3
- “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His clothing was white as snow. Daniel 7:9
- An angel of God was dressed in heavenly clothing – robe of white. When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome “Arrived at the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side.” Mark 16:5
- In Luke 9:28-29 “Now about eight days after these sayings He) took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.
Read more from Cindy: Cup Overflowing Dream
