God Answers Prayers and Calms Fears

In Cottage 1, one of my many responsibilities is to wake the boys in the morning. With all of our boys, I frequently ask them “How did you sleep last night?” After they give me their response, I tell them “Ask me how I slept.” When they ask I usually reply “I’m not sure…I wasn’t awake.” Our boys, who know me,  know and anticipate my answer.

A few weeks ago, we received two new children in our cottage, a six year old and a ten year old boy.  As my custom goes, I asked our six-year-old how he slept his first night with us.  As he awakened, he looked rather troubled and tense.  His answer to my question was short and to the point, “Bad.”  I asked him if he had a bad dream or nightmare.  He told me that he did and that he had bad dreams all the time.  Then he began to go into graphic detail about his nightmares. His description sounded like an R-rated horror movie where victims are mutilated and murdered.  The killer in the nightmares was murdering his family and trying to kill him.  I asked him “Would you like to pray about this tonight and ask God to stop the nightmares?”  “Yes” was his reply.  I told him “The nightmares will stop and we will keep praying until they stop.”  He seemed reassured by this.

Bobby Jackson

Later in the day, I asked him if he had ever watched scary movies. He told me that he did and then went into much detail describing character names and events in a number of “R” rated horror movies.  I told him not to tell me any more and not to talk about these anymore.  “You won’t be watching any of these bad movies here,” I said reassuringly.

At bedtime, I asked if he still wanted to pray for the nightmares to stop.  After he told me “Yes,” I again told him, “The nightmares will stop and we will keep praying until they stop.”  I shared a Bible verse or two about how much God loves him.  I prayed a number of Bible promises regarding God’s peace, healing and protection.  I then asked God to remove all fear in his heart and mind and asked God to stop his nightmares in the name of Jesus Christ.  We also prayed for his family and I prayed that he would have good dreams in place of bad ones.

In keeping with my “custom” the next morning, I asked him how he slept.  “Great” was his reply. He told me that he did not have any nightmares.  He said he did have good dreams but could not remember them.  I was very excited!  We then had a very brief chat about how real God and His Word are.  That night I asked if he wanted to pray again.  He told me that he did so I prayed again and this time he was relaxed, having been more tense the night before.  We thanked God for stopping the nightmares and for a number of other things.  I again asked God to remove his fear and not allow the dreams to return.   Again, I prayed for his family and that he would have good dreams instead of bad ones.

The next morning I received another good report.  Again, he slept well with no nightmares. Again, he had good dreams but did not remember the details; he just knew they were good.  I was so excited!  I told him “That is great!  It’s so awesome that God answered our prayers with a big ‘Yes,’ and so fast!”  Calmly but happy and smiling, he replied, “It worked because I believe Jesus and God.”  His confession of faith caused my heart to soar!  I told him “All things are possible to him (or her) who believes.”  (Mark 9:23)

The only night this little boy had a nightmare was his first night at our cottage.  The rest of the week he slept peaceful and nightmare free.

As I write these words and reflect on God’s wondrous love and demonstrated power, many scriptures come to mind:

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.  Matthew 11:25-26 NIV

Bobby, Melanie and Hannah Jackson

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17 NKJV

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.  Luke 11:10 NLT

I am convinced that God is willing and able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  Ephesians 3:20 NIV

Sincerely,

Robert E. Jackson (Bobby Jackson)

(Bobby Jackson is the House Dad in Cottage 1.  He and his wife, Melanie, with their daughter Hannah, have served as house parents at NMCCH for 2 years.)

5 Comments

  1. Jake on January 20, 2019 at 11:07 am

    Hello, thank you for your post. God bless you for availing yourself to help others increase in the faith.
    I am 28 years old and I have been having nightmares for most of my life. I have googled and come across many solutions; from confessing the word of God to confessing my sins to listening to sermons as I sleep to casting out demons to covering myself with the blood of Jesus. The nightmares stop for a few days after I attempt any of these things but return after awhile. I pray Psalm 91 and still have nightmares. I fast and still have nightmares. I am extremely selective of the shows I watch and only watch movies and tv shows made for kids and I still have nightmares. I am always afraid to go to bed. I feel that God doesn’t love me because of this. I have nobody to discuss this with and I’m exhausted. I will appreciate any advice you can give for my situation. Thank you.

    • james on February 16, 2019 at 7:18 pm

      I understand with you Jake, but you see satan likes to always feed on something in us. you need to empty yourself totally to God,dont hold back on anything. secondly we have to work with God with faith,because without faith it is impossible to please God,as you trust God to deliver you from bad dreams believe he has don’t it and study the word more,cos when you feed your soul with Gods word there is no way satan’s going to fill your heart with thoughts and fears. and keep telling yourself you work by faith and not by fear,my faith is greater than my fears. remain blessed.

    • Uma on May 29, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Hi Jake,
      I see that you wrote this a year ago.
      How are you now? Have you been sleeping well brother?Jesus loves you very much brother. Jesus holds you. He knows you by name. Be of good cheer and Hold on to Him who overcame the world. John 16:33. Pray and ask for more faith in Jesus 1 John 5:5. I am doing the same as I am going through the exact same thing as you and I am always in tears, exhausted, none to talk to, none to help. But Jesus is faithful and promises to help. Our God is good. Keep faith. God bless you brother.

  2. Jay Eliyos on February 7, 2019 at 12:00 pm

    I really like your post it was remind my childhood days, when i dream about nightmare and my grand mother was ask me the same thing what you’ve ask to that kid. and my grand mother was reading me a words of god and ask me to pray as well.
    Always remember when we give your full faith and trust to god you will be in a good hand.
    Thessalonians 3:3
    But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

  3. laycistercians on July 22, 2020 at 4:08 am

    God has words of life of truth that he wants to speak into your fears. Soaking them in, praying them out loud until they became so familiar they replace the other things in your mind that is the first line of defense against fear and worry.

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