The symbolism of a dove

 
Today I looked outside in the backyard and saw one mourning dove. Then another one appeared. I snapped pictures of them because I have always been impressed by their gracefulness and symbolism. An hour later, there were six doves in our backyard.

The Holy Spirit

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and we know the Holy Spirit is our love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The next time you see a dove lingering around you, remember God is reminding you that He loves you and will continue to be there for you.

Baptism

The Holy Spirit actually appeared like a dove when Jesus was baptized. Matthew 3:16 tells us that “At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” The Holy Spirit is like that in our lives, too. When we choose to die to ourselves, through baptism (rejecting our former habits), He dwells in us.

New Hope

In Genesis 8:11, the Bible says Noah sent the dove from the ark to see if the water on the earth had dried up. “When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!”

Just imagine, Noah’s old life was wiped away by the flood, so seeing the olive leaf represented a fresh start. Noah must have been filled with hope, realizing he would soon live a “normal” life.

Revelation

Likewise, when I saw those birds today, I became more hopeful in God about my situation. Sometimes we feel so overwhelmed or discouraged, but God will speak to us in symbolic ways. Look around you, God is trying to speak to you about the circumstances in your life.