For as long as I can remember, I struggled with sleep paralysis. In simple terms, something would come to ‘press’ me at night’ which sometimes took the form of family members, friends and those around me. I didn’t know why it happened to me, all I knew was that it scared me a lot.
One time, a demon came in the form of my cousin who was probably 2 years old at the time and pressed me. I used to play with him a lot while I was at my aunt’s house but after I was pressed, I just avoided him. He must have been wondering why I stopped playing with him all of a sudden; it was so serious my aunt even asked me about it.
I didn’t believe in witches at first,l but once the pressing started, I was suddenly open to the idea of scary things being out there.
Each time I had one of those experiences, I wouldn’t be able to sleep in the room with the lights off or with the curtains open for a good while. In my mind, even if a witch wants to see me, let her peep; let it not be that I see her looking at me because the curtains are wide open!
I became scared of the dark and couldn’t go out late because I was worried that one day, the demons would press me with my eyes wide open or just kill me. Whenever power went out on the house and I wasn’t with a torch or my phone, I’d be scared to death. Even at the sound of birds singing at night, my heart would start racing. It was like I was living in a horror movie which only started at night.
This pressing went on for a good while until I came to God’s Lighthouse and I noticed I no longer experienced the attacks at night but, I was still scared of the dark and going out late at night.
How I overcame
Over time, as I kept attending the weekly meetings, it took a little while to get home due to where I lived. My house had a long street leading to it and there were no street lights on it. Repeatedly, I’d walk down to my house in the dark with my heart beating very fast!
One day, while I was walking on the road late in the night, I passed by a man walking in the opposite direction and greeted him. After he replied and I had walked some distance, I started to hear footsteps behind me. Apparently, the man had turned and was following me. I ran for my dear life that day like I have never run before.
But that experience didn’t stop me from going to church and coming back home. By obeying and being consistent in the evening weekday meetings, I was gradually being delivered from the fear of the dark.
A meeting with the new inductees of the God’s Army Mobilising children’s unit was fixed around this time, and I was invited as one of the inductees. During the meeting, Sis I. who exhorted us didn’t really talk about children, rather she shared her testimony of having encounters with opPRESSive spirits in her sleep amongst other things. I remember her saying that if such a spirit comes to us, we should not be afraid because He that is in us is greater, and that we should learn to say this.
I tried to look calm and collected so no one would think I had experienced such a thing but in my mind I was thinking, “so that’s what it is!”
A few days later, I fell ill with Malaria. If you’ve been pressed before, you would know that sometimes, malaria and pressing go hand in hand. While I lay sleeping on my bed, something came and pressed me. I tried to say “He that is in me is greater” as Sis I. had said but it couldn’t come out of my mouth. Although I couldn’t say the words, I believed them and was sure the spirit couldn’t harm or kill me. When I woke up, I continued with my day as usual and noticed I wasn’t scared anymore.
A few nights after, I woke up in the middle of the night and the room had the “pressing-darkness” feeling again and I knew what was coming. I saw a dark being just standing at the corner of the room.
What I did next shocked me; I looked at it, turned away from it and slept with no fear in my heart. When I woke up the next morning, I knew it was not me; I could never have such boldness on my own.
By simply hearing about God and His plans for me, my faith had increased to the level that the being could only look at me and not touch me! This happened sometime in 2020 or 2021 and that was the last of their visits till yesterday (19th July 2023).
The demon disguised as a superhero came when it wasn’t dark at all. In fact, everywhere was well lit when I noticed I was checking in my sleep.
I thought, “Am I being pressed?” I looked at the being and thought I was just having a dream. I wanted to fight the superhero and tried moving my hands but couldn’t. So I asked the being, “Are you really pressing me?” I was so amused. I tried to move again but I couldn’t. It was now I concluded that I was actually being pressed. I laughed and I said “Get out of here in Jesus name!”
The being left immediately and I continued laughing. This all happened in less than ten seconds.
I’m sure my Dad must have been wondering what was making me smile so much. In my mind, something trying to press me had become a joke.
As I was laughing about it later in the day, it seemed the Holy Spirit was trying to get my attention, so I listened and I got the impression to remember where I was coming from.
Would you believe I had forgotten how I used to be pressed and scared before this day? The Holy Spirit had to remind me! All I was thinking about was how I should have pressed the being instead of telling it to get out.
I am so thankful to God for how far He has brought me; coming from the place where I would try saying Jesus severally and the pressing would increase, to the place where the demon left when I said get out! Not to mention the fear of the dark which I have been delivered from so thoroughly that I had forgotten I was ever scared of the dark.
Now I look out the window to check what is making sounds at night. I can comfortably go out of the house to lock the door by 1am. I’m not scared of witches or demons coming to me at night and I can sit in the dark without any source of light and be completely at peace. Even when I had a nightmare recently and woke up scared, I rebuked the spirit of fear for five seconds and then slept like a baby after it.
I thank God for delivering me from the fear of the dark and demons, and also for giving me courage through the understanding of His word. Amen.
Amazing words! God help us take heed.