Does the Bible say anything about nightmares?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Dreams that frighten us are called nightmares. Dreams are absolutely normal—when we fall asleep, dreaming is thought to be the mind's way of dealing with "extra" information that it could not process during the day. When the mind is troubled for some reason, it can produce a nightmare. The cause may be physical, such as an illness or having eaten something odd too close to bedtime, or it can be emotional. Stress or anxiety felt during our waking life has a way of expressing itself during our dreams. Sometimes nightmares can produce a strong physical response. We may wake up breathing heavily, or sweating, or with a racing heartbeat. The Bible mentions dreams, and it is clear that God can and does speak to people through dreams. This does not mean that all dreams have spiritual significance, just that it happens to be a channel through which God sometimes speaks to us. Nightmares do not necessarily have an evil cause but are the result of a fallen world. God provides peace for those suffering from worries or nightmares.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• There are many examples of God speaking through dreams. Jacob had a dream of angels ascending a ladder (Genesis 28). Joseph had prophetic dreams about becoming a ruler over his brothers (Genesis 37). Joseph also interpreted dreams had by Pharaoh's chief cup bearer and chief baker, as well as one had by Pharaoh (Genesis 40—41).
• Many other biblical characters had spiritual dreams, including Abimelech (Genesis 20), a man near Gideon whose dream confirmed what God had told Gideon (Judges 7), Solomon (1 Kings 3), and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2).
• God compares the impermanence of wicked people to "phantoms" in dreams that are forgotten as soon as one awakes (Psalm 73:20).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the New Testament, Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus (Matthew 1—2) had several dreams from God giving him direction for his family. Pilate's wife also had a dream and warned Pilate to “have nothing to do with that righteous man [Jesus], for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream” (Matthew 27:19). Pilate attempted to release Jesus, but succumbed to the demands of the crowd and washed his hands to declare himself innocent of Jesus’ death prior to turning Him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:14–26).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Because nightmares are so scary, we are tempted to believe that Satan or demons are responsible for them, and that they are tormenting us in nightmares. This is most likely just our fears talking. The Bible does not record any instances of demonic activity in nightmares. But that is not to say that God is unfeeling towards those who suffer with nightmares or night terrors. Like any illness, mental or physical, nightmares are the result of a fallen world. If you regularly suffer from nightmares, meeting with a doctor or counselor may be a good idea. In dealing with any nightmare, remember that God promised that He cares for us, and that we should bring our anxieties to Him (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus became a man so that He could sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and He does understand. Turning to God for peace after a nightmare (or before going to sleep) is a biblical response to this very real fear. He is a good Father, and has promised to give us the Holy Spirit's peace when we ask for it (Galatians 5:22; Luke 11:11–13).

UNDERSTAND

• Generally speaking, nightmares are often a reflection of the mind processing stress and anxiety; having a nightmare is not an inherent sign of evil influence.
• The Bible illustrates that God can use dreams, including disturbing ones, for communication, as seen with figures like Joseph and Nebuchadnezzar.
• Believers are encouraged to bring their anxieties to God, who gives comfort and peace.

REFLECT

• How do personal experiences with stress and anxiety influence the content of dreams and nightmares?
• How can you practice bringing your fears and worries to God, especially when faced with overwhelming feelings during nightmares?
• How might understanding that nightmares are a natural response help you approach your fears with more peace and less anxiety?

ENGAGE

• What biblical examples of dreams or nightmares help inform our understanding of God's communication through dreams?
• How can we discern whether our dreams have spiritual significance or are simply reflections of our daily experiences and emotions?
• What steps can we take to seek comfort and peace from God before or after experiencing a nightmare, and how does that impact our relationship with God?