Fern's got an excellent point, symbolic vs literal understanding of what our mind says to us. I want to reinforce that.

My pdoc has spoken to this with me and while I don't recall exactly what she said, it was something to the effect of, "Faith in the Divine is not the same as believing the Divine is speaking directly to you." I come from a fairly conservative religious background so I share the questions regarding delusion and belief. I appreciate you bringing this topic into the open in a way I never could particularly now as I struggle in my own spiritual journey facing criticism and judgement from my in-laws.