One of the primary things that has helped me understand dream symbolism is learning to slow down when I read Scripture.

In my reading today, I came across a great example:

“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
Psalm 18:34

Read more: What Do Bows Mean in Dreams?

It’s easy to read right past that verse. Admittedly, I almost did. But instead, I chose to pause, picture it, and ask questions.

The curious see what the hurried miss.

And I have often found that curiosity is what opens the door to greater revelation. Especially when it relates to dream interpretation.

Some of my questions, Why a bow? Why a bronze bow? What was David trying to communicate?

David certainly knew literal warfare. But I don’t think he was merely making a military reference here. He was using the imagery of warfare to describe the way God trained him through life’s greatest pressures.

As I slowly leaned into the passage, I discovered that I had just turned over a rock and found an incredible treasure. An answer for where I’m at with several things in life right now:

TENSION.

A bow only works under tension. No tension? The arrow doesn’t hit its mark. Too much tension? The bow breaks. And there are so many areas of life this can relate to.

Leadership requires tension.
Intercession requires tension.
Waiting requires tension.
Holding conviction with humility requires tension.
Loving difficult people requires tension.
Trusting God to be your Defender in the face of false accusations requires tension.
Remaining faithful over years requires tension.

Our prayers often sound like: “Lord, quick, rescue! Remove this tension.” But that’s not how David says God helped him deal with tension.

He said:

“He teaches me…”

That’s a discipleship word.

God didn’t simply perform a miracle, remove every obstacle, and eliminate every difficult circumstance for David. Sometimes, He will. But when it came to tension, He used that place to strengthen David. And He will do the same for us.

To bend a bow of bronze is a picture of extraordinary strength beyond what David could have naturally accomplished on his own. Bronze is a very strong metal. But God expanded David’s capacity and taught him how to carry what once would have crushed him. He taught him to stretch into something that would have made some of us…snap.

This encouraged me today.

But it also made me think about the times I’ve dreamed of bows and arrows. I immediately pulled up my dream journals and started searching. This is how understanding symbolism – and making sense of my dreams – often works for me.

As I reflected on those dreams, I began to see the connections. I realized God had been using them to encourage me. These weren’t just spiritual warfare dreams. God was fully aware of the tensions I was facing, but rather than simply removing them, He was using them as strength training to build my spiritual endurance and expand my capacity. Wow. Talk about that rearranging my prayer life!

The symbols we see in dreams are not random. But sometimes, they’re not immediately discerned. It’s very much like how Jesus taught in parables. They were full of symbolism. But when the people heard Him teach, some walked away because they just didn’t get it. But others leaned in, asked questions, pulled Him aside, and to them was given the mysteries of the Kingdom.

It’s the same with dreams. The symbols we see are meant to invite us to linger, ask questions, and discover something about the nature of God and the way He works in our lives. But we’ll only get the revelation behind the burning bush if we’re willing to take the time to turn aside and see.

I wonder how many of the symbols in Scripture we’ve rushed past because we’ve only read them instead of seeing them, instead of perceiving them with spiritual eyes?

If you want to grow in your understanding of dream symbolism, may I suggest: slow down; be curious; turn to the greatest Teacher of all.

He will train you.