THE LION
Healthy & Strong. Golden.
A systems Engineered Excursion on Identity, Transformation, & Divine Power
This Systems Engineered Excursion presents not merely symbols, but a complete pattern of the human person under God: created, wounded, redeemed, strengthened, and sent. It reveals a movement from smallness to strength, from fragmentation to integration, from being carried to carrying others—yet always within the sustaining power of God.
"It was only just a dream..."
"...But not really only just a dream."
The Hand of Cards was Dealt
The hand of cards had been dealt —
not by chance, but by the hand of God.
The receiving hand had no choice but to accept them.
The hand held six cards, the value of which were irrelevant.
Three were antique white.
Three were black, ancient, deep, and resolute.
What mattered now was how the receiver would play its hand.
Then God Spoke
Then God spoke, with an imprinting impression more than a sound:
“These are meant for this.”
At that word, the cream cards mysteriously transformed
into a small, child-sized teacup.
Thousands of hairline cracks covered its surface like veins.
It was wounded, fragile — and still whole.
A vessel of tender memories, of hidden strength.
A heart beyond broken; shattered to a thousand pieces.
Then He Revealed...
Then He Revealed:
“And this is to be used for this.”
The three black cards now became black ladders.
They reached for Heaven.
And as they did, they began to bend, joining to form a cage.
And The Lion Was There.
Suddenly, within the forming cage stood a powerful lion.
But before the cage could trap him, it transformed —
Becoming a glass globe around the lion.
Not as a prison, but as a supernatural protection.
The lion was able to run with maximum strength, courage and freedom.
The globe did not slow him — it carried him, elevating his strides to an unearthly type of flight.
He ran not wildly, but with purpose.
A Force of Strength Revealed
And its purpose, its strength, and joy was then revealed:
The lion was yoked, not restrained — but took flight in its purpose
pulling behind him a cart, overflowing with golden hay,
The harvest of Heaven and Earth. And inside the cart were Cubs.
Little lions, frolicking, eating, playing, free.
Resting in the abundance the great lion pulled for them.
Moved and shielded by a boundless strength from within and without,
Shielded by prayer. Sustained by grace.
Unwrapping the Mysterious Symbolism
The Hand Given by God
Every human life begins the same way: not by choosing, but by receiving. A hand is placed before us—circumstances, family, wounds, strengths, limitations—none of which actually originates from our own will. Scripture affirms this reality with clarity: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)
Nothing essential about a person’s life is accidental. Even what appears random is permitted, shaped, or allowed within a providence that sees the whole. This means that the starting point of transformation is not control, but acceptance. Not passive resignation—but a recognition that “This was given, therefore, it has meaning, and therefore, it can be used to glorify God.”
The question is not: Why this hand? The question is: What will be done with it?
The hand contains both light and dark, reflecting the interior tension described throughout Scripture: “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) & “I see in my members another law waging war…” (Romans 7:23) Within every person exists a genuine desire for goodness, truth, and love, while at the same time a simultaneous experience of weakness, resistance, and struggle.
Additionally, the hand contains six cards: three white and three black. This number is significant. In Scripture, three signifies completeness and confirmation—something fully established. To have three of each indicates that both realities in the human person are complete and intentional. Together they form six, the number associated with humanity—created, yet not fully perfected. This is the starting point: a complete human life, not lacking anything necessary, yet still awaiting transformation. Neither color of cards is meaningless. Both are necessary because transformation does not happen in the absence of struggle—it happens through it.
The Meaning of the Light Colored Cards
The Higher Faculties & Capacity for God
The three white cards represent the full interior capacity of the person toward God. They correspond to the higher faculties of the soul: the intellect to perceive truth, the will to choose and love, and the interior identity that holds meaning — the soul’s capacity to hold and be held, to suffer and still serve. They also echo the pattern of faith, hope, and love. These are not partial gifts—they are complete. The person has been given everything necessary to receive God and respond to Him, including the inclination toward what is good.
These cards turning into a cracked teacup (a vessel of compassion, the chalice of hidden strength) is deeply meaningful: It shows that even the soul’s highest faculties are wounded by sin and fragile on their own.
Yet in God’s hands, they become a vessel — something that can hold love, pour mercy, and feed and serve others.
This is the heart made vulnerable by grace, like Christ’s Sacred Heart: broken, yet life-giving.
The Meaning of the Black Cards
The Full Weight of the Human Condition
The three black cards represent the full range of human struggle— emotional weight, suffering, fear, limitation, the friction of being human in a fallen world. This is not evil in itself, but the arena where transformation takes place. Just as the white cards are complete, so are the black. Nothing is missing and nothing is excessive. Everything needed for growth is present.
By God’s command, these “black cards” become ladders — meaning:
They are not to be suppressed or destroyed, but disciplined and elevated
Through prayer, fasting, and self-mastery, our lower drives become the framework of holiness
They form the outer structure that protects the soul’s fire (the lion), rather than cage it
The black cards: discipline, silence, prayer, structure — the soul’s backbone.
Turned into ladders: the ascent to God through self-mastery and devotion.
Forming protection: prayer doesn’t cage power — it orders and shields it.
These black cards represent the passions and instincts — not evil in themselves, but disordered by the Fall and in need of grace and discipline:
Together the cards represent the whole human person
Body & Soul Ordered by Grace
The teacup: the soul’s capacity to love, refined by suffering and grace
The ladders: the soul’s discipline and boundaries, sanctified by prayer
The lion: the soul made strong and courageous in the Spirit
The cart and cubs: the fruitfulness of a life surrendered to God — others benefit from your inner order and outer mission
St. Paul speaks of this balance:
“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:27
| Part of the Soul | Symbol | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Rational soul (intellect, will) | Light cards | Meant to govern |
| Sensitive/appetitive soul (emotions, desires) | Black cards | Meant to be ruled by reason and grace |
| Body | Implied in the teacup & lion | Expression of both — broken yet strong, when ordered |
God does not discard the animal side of us, but redeems and integrates it, ordering the whole person — body, soul, instincts, intellect — into a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Shattered Heart
From the light colored cards a cup emerges—small, fragile, and covered in cracks. This is the human heart: receptive, relational, capable of holding both love and pain. The cracks represent wounds carried over time, experiences that have marked the soul, and places where something has been lost, stretched, or broken. Yet the vessel is still whole. This is critical. The heart may be wounded, but it is not destroyed by what it has endured. It still holds. It still receives. It still gives. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 34:18) But what stands out most is not only that the cup is cracked— It is small.
The cracks in the cup recall another Scripture: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7 The cracks in the teacup aren’t a flaw — they’re the marks of suffering and redemption, just like the wounds of Christ. The cup becomes not just a vessel of mercy, but a sacramental image:
Of the soul that has suffered
That still chooses to serve
And is used by God to refresh others in love
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cup | The soul’s capacity to hold and give love |
| Cold water | An act of mercy or charity, especially to the “little ones” |
| Child-size | Simplicity, humility, innocence |
| Cracks | Woundedness made fruitful by grace |
| Giving the drink | The everyday acts of kindness that echo into eternity |
“Even the smallest act, done in love, touches eternity.”
The Power of Being Small
The cup is not large or impressive. It is miniature—something the worldly might disregard. This detail is not incidental. It reveals a central principle of the Gospel: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” (Matthew 13:31) & “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest…” (Matthew 18:4)
God consistently chooses what is small, hidden, and overlooked because these are the places least dependent on self-sufficiency. Smallness carries humility, dependence, and openness. A small vessel suggests “I do not have much—but I am open.” And this openness is what allows God to act.
The image of the antique cup, especially small, cracked, and child-sized, resonates perfectly with Jesus’ words about offering a simple drink of water — a symbol of mercy, love, and hidden service. “And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” — Matthew 10:42
Childlikeness: The Hidden Foundation
The small cup reflects the condition described by Christ: “Unless you become like children…” (Matthew 18:3). Childlikeness is not weakness, but trust, receptivity, and dependence. The heart must become small in order to be filled. Just like the cup of cold water:
The Ladders: When Struggle Becomes Ascent
“These Are Meant for This”
The declaration that “these are meant for this” reveals intention. The light and black cards are not opposing forces, but paired instruments. Each has a purpose. The vision is not about conflict between them, but about their integration and transformation. What follows is not accidental—it is designed.
The dark elements—the weight of human struggle—are not removed. They are transformed. They become ladders. This is one of the most profound spiritual truths: “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3–4) What once pulled downward can become the very means of rising. Fear can become vigilance and prayer. Sorrow can become compassion. Weakness can become dependence on God. Suffering can become participation in something greater. Even Christ reveals this pattern: “Take up your cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) The cross is not eliminated—it becomes the path. The ladders represent the moment when struggle is no longer an obstacle, but through self-mastery, silence, prayer, and structure become a means of ascent to God.
The Illusion of the Cage
As transformation begins, the ladders begin bending into a cage, reflecting a universal experience: Advancement feels restrictive before it feels freeing.
Discipline feels limiting
Letting go feels like loss
Surrender feels like confinement
Scripture acknowledges this directly: “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant…” (Hebrews 12:11)
This stage of transformation can look or feel restrictive, confining, and even limiting. Yet this perception is incomplete. What appears as confinement is actually preparation. But in reality, something else is happening:
Disorder is being removed.
Structure is being formed.
Alignment is beginning.
True Freedom and Power are about to take flight.
The Globe: Supernatural Protection
The cage does not remain.
It becomes a transparent sphere—a Globe of Protection and Divine Order.
What once appeared as restriction is revealed to be empowerment.
“You hem me in, behind and before…” (Psalm 139:5)
“The Lord is my refuge and my fortress…” (Psalm 91:2)
This sphere does not limit movement—it enables it to be powerfully aligned with Almighty God.
This sphere represents order, stability, and a defined domain of life with God-ordained purpose. Within it, movement is not hindered but guided and strengthened.
Within the globe energy is focused, strength is stabilized, and direction becomes clear. This is the difference between chaotic effort and ordered power. The person is no longer scattered or reacting randomly to life. They are directed, sustained and held by an invisible power, God’s Grace, and moving within God’s Will.
The Lion: Strength Born from Transformation
Anointed & Sent on a Mission: Divine Calling
The lion represents the soul filled with holy fire — strong in virtue, running in divine purpose. Not uncontrolled—but powerful and directed. Scripture identifies this image clearly: “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…” (Revelation 5:5)
The lion represents strength, courage, authority, and purpose. But this strength is not self-made. It is the result of transformation. The small, cracked vessel has not been discarded—it has been fulfilled. The heart that once held pain now moves with power. As Scripture says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) This is not the elimination of weakness. It is weakness transformed into strength.
The cup is no longer visible—not because it is gone, but because it has been integrated. The person is no longer defined by fragility. Yet the wounds remain internally as compassion, depth, understanding, and authority. Just as Christ’s wounds remained after the Resurrection, but were transformed. “Put your finger here, and see my hands.” (John 20:27) The wounds no longer define weakness. They define victory.
“The righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). This is the emergence of true identity: strength formed through surrender and transformation. The fragile vessel has not been discarded—it has become strength.
Everything Within the Sphere
Everything Held Within The Power of God
The lion, the cubs, and the provision all exist within the sphere. This is the final and most important truth. The mission is real. The responsibility is real. The strength is real. But none of it is self-sustained. “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) & “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) Everything is held. Everything is sustained. Everything is carried.
The Details make the Work of Art a Masterpeice
The lion is yoked—not restrained, but directed. “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30) A yoke does not remove work. It removes disorder. It ensures that strength is not wasted, not scattered, and not destructive, but purposeful. The lion now runs not by impulse—but by alignment with God.
Behind the lion is abundance—and within it, life. The cart of golden hay represents provision, overflowing fruitfulness, and the visible result of transformation. “Whoever abides in me… bears much fruit.” (John 15:5) The cubs represent those entrusted and protected. They are safe, nourished, frolicking and joyfully blessed by that life — these are the children, spiritual offspring, or souls who reap the benefits and are drawn into joy through one soul’s faithfulness. “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) This reveals that the ultimate purpose of transformation and strength is not self-improvement or self-preservation, but life given for others. What was once interior becomes visible as the strength of God now gives bounty to others through the life of the lion.
Everything is Within the Sphere
The lion, the cubs, and the provision all remain within the sphere. It all exists within God’s sustaining power.
1 Corinthians 4:7: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (First Epistle to the Corinthians)
The person acts, but is not the source.
The Lion is the Dreamer
But not the only one...
Then God reveals that the Lion she is watching in the dream is the woman herself — the dreamer. And the fact that God reveals this in the dream alludes to it being more than symbolic, but identity-shaping, mission-clarifying, and soul-defining. A woman. A lion. The same person. Revealed by God. Not chosen by her, but revealed.
In Scripture, the lion symbolizes Royalty (Judah, kingship, Christ — cf. Gen 49:9), Strength, fearlessness, divine power, Mission, victory, and dominion. So when God reveals she is the lion He’s not just calling out her identity — He’s declaring her dignity, power, and purpose. She is not fragile by nature, even if life made her feel that way at some point. She is not caged, but protected. She was created to run, to carry, to lead, and to bring others into joy. “The woman clothed with strength and dignity laughs at the days to come.” — Proverbs 31:25
Bold Yet Maternal
The lion is strong and powerful with the mane of a male, yet this is not a contradiction to her femininity — it fulfills it. She is created to be strong like Judith who struck down Holofernes, Wise like Deborah who judged Israel, Courageous like Esther who stood before a king, and Faithful like Mary, the Mother of God, who crushed the serpent’s head. This Lion Woman is created to be queenly, maternal, ferocious in love, and fierce in protection.
She Is the One Pulling the Vehicle of Bounty the fruit of her sacrifice blessed by God. She is not alone. The cubs — souls she protects, inspires, raises, and serves. These could be children, spiritual children, souls entrusted to her mission. Her life is not just for herself, but for others — just like Christ. She is yoked — She is anchored in grace, moving under divine strength, and her mission is not her own, but shared with God.
“The Lord is with you, O valiant woman.” — echoing Judges 6:12, applied anew. Just as the Church is: Mother of souls, Strong in spiritual battle, Fruitful in grace, Yoked to Christ, Carrying the next generation of saints, So too is this lion-woman.
The movement is complete: what is given is received, what is wounded is revealed, what is heavy is transformed, what feels restrictive becomes protection, what is small becomes strong, and what is transformed becomes fruitful. And none of it originates from human strength. The beginning was not impressive. It was small, cracked, hidden, and easily dismissed. And yet— that small vessel became strength, protection, provision, and life for others. This is the logic of God. “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) “Whoever is faithful in little is faithful also in much.” (Luke 16:10) What feels small is not insignificant. It is the starting point of transformation. What feels like “not enough” is often exactly what God intends to use. Because when something small becomes great, it is clear where the power came from. Not from the vessel. But from the One who filled it.
The Power of God
Nothing in a human life is wasted when placed in the hands of God. Not the wounds, not the limitations, not the struggles. Everything can be transformed, ordered, and elevated. What is small becomes great, what is weak becomes strong, and what is broken becomes life-giving. The power was never in the vessel. It was always in God.
Summary of the Revelation
Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
Lion | Her strength, identity, divine calling |
Glass globe | God’s protection through prayer and grace |
Speed and purpose | She is on mission — anointed and sent |
Yoke | Surrender to God’s will, not self-reliance |
Cart of hay | Abundance from her obedience and endurance |
Lion cubs | Lives she nurtures, spiritually or literally |
The Revelation | She is more than she thought — and God is showing her who she really is |
