Also known as “night terrors”, these fears cause feelings of dread and horror mostly in infants and children but also in adults. They are different from nightmares which are bad dreams that cause fear and terror. People who have experienced these night terrors usually described them as bolting upright with their eyes wide open, a look of panic or terror, and will often scream.
I’ve experienced another form of night fear. It’s where I wake up in the middle of the night feeling absolutely hopeless about certain situations. Tremendous fear that things will not get any better. And for no apparent reason, my fear tells me “I’m doomed and everything around me is going to crumble”. And there is nothing i can do about. I’m powerless. Often, after these feelings of dread, I get up and pray and read my Bible and the feelings will subside, but only enough for me to fall asleep. I fall asleep with dread.
Then something unusual happens, I wake up and remember my fears , but the dread is gone! It seems as though the things that scare me in the night are rendered “toothless” by the light of the morning.
Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
There’s something about bringing the dreaded things, things cause panic before Christ that cause them to drained of power over me!
It reminds me of lyrics to song I like:
The sun comes peak’n over the hill
here I am with an old bent heart
say’n Savior I will walk this day
in the Light of the mornin star
(chorus)
O Savior, Savior
I’m so glad I know who you are
God grant me just to walk with thee
In the light of the mornin star
My night terror shall not control my life. How about you?
Hi Pastor Tom,
By Gods grace I have never experienced this and I hope I never do. But I know a few people who have and it’s terrifying! Both Christian and Non-Christian. Trying to empathize is where I find myself stumped. Mostly because I don’t know what it feels like?
I have tried to figure out at times if God is allowing it, especially when someone admits to running from their calling?
And/or if it’s a satanic strategy trying to hinder their progress via fear?
What are your thoughts and what have you run into in your experience? Can you provide a Biblical response for those struggling with “night terrors/anxiety?
Thanks for your time!
I can only give you my opinion, this isn’t the last word on this topic for sure. Excluding the physiological aspect of this (not all of these night terrors have spiritual meaning, babies for example), I’m fairly certain its a strategy from satan. My reasoning is that the fear is so non-specific. For sure God will deal with us to change and use unorthodox methods but, like conviction, its specific not general.
The strategy seems to try and hinder my faith. But, like all darts from satan, God uses these to increase my faith. Yes, I’ve experienced fear but the sweetness of His comfort reigns supreme!
The Biblical response is attacks come, but God’s Light (truth, Spirit, Word) wins the day. Many verses point to this. My favorite is Philippians 4:6-8
HTH
PTW
Thanks. I look forward to more on this topic.
This comment is from Ellen Villanueva:
Good topic…. I do not dream…I sleep like a baby, oh but when I do, I experience night terrors. I have about 3 a year, and my experience leaves me frozen with fear. I never ever have linked these ” frightening dreams” to spiritual attacks. But, after reading this…I have a different outlook on them. I read your topic about 3 weeks ago and decided to search the the bible and I found, Psalms 95:1 ~You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, enough said…..smile.
The fear could linger in me for most of the day. I can share some of my “night terrors” with my husband, but he does not fully understand the extreme emotion that comes along with them. Some are so scary, I do not share with anyone. I know that the common theory may be these night terrors occur because of subconscious thoughts or trauma and researchers believe that a chemical trigger in the brain causes your brain to “misfire” and cause a Night Terror. But, after some research I believe Jesus calms the storms, even in the night. I believe night terrors are just spiritual attacks, to get us to be afraid and forget God’s abounding love for us and that he’s watching over us.
Thank you for touching on this and if and when I do experience another one, I will use the “Godly” approach. If anyone is reading this and may not want to share or are confused on what they are experiencing, get counseling from your pastor or a qualified Christian counselor. God has put them in your life for comfort, support, guidance, and correction. Ephesians 4:11-12~So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…..
Thanks Pastor Tom