The Power of Calling on Jesus’s Name

If you’ve never experienced sleep paralysis, let me paint a picture for you. Imagine waking up, but not being able to move a single muscle. You’re frozen, yet you can see everything going on around you. Just then, a dark entity enters the room. It watches you at first, then it begins moving closer towards you, crawling up onto the bed, and onto your chest.

Ever heard of something called Old Hag Syndrome? The Old Hag is one of the most frequently reported figures people see during sleep paralysis. People describe seeing an old woman with long, disheveled gray hair and black, soulless eyes. She sits on your chest, strangling you, while you’re wide awake but utterly unable to move. Sound terrifying? Well, it is–and I know first hand.

But, what if I told you there’s a way to stop these attacks in their tracks—and keep them from happening altogether? Before we get into that, though, let me explain what sleep paralysis is from a medical perspective, and then I’ll look at this from a Christian perspective. After that, I’ll share my own terrifying experiences with it. And finally, I’ll reveal how you can stop these attacks once and for all. So, get ready—this is going to be an interesting ride.

What Exactly is Sleep Paralysis?

Sleep paralysis is a strange and unsettling experience where you find yourself awake but unable to move or speak, right after falling asleep or just before fully waking up. Normally, sleep and wakefulness are two separate states, but during sleep paralysis, those lines get blurred. You’re conscious, but your body feels trapped, and many people report seeing frightening hallucinations or feeling like something is pressing down on them, making it hard to breathe. Experts think it’s a mix of being awake while still partially in REM sleep—the part of sleep where we dream and our bodies are naturally paralyzed. So, you’re stuck in this in-between place, fully aware, but your body is still in sleep mode.

An estimated 75% of sleep paralysis episodes also involve hallucinations that are distinct from typical dreams. Hallucinations during sleep paralysis fall into three categories. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias/sleep-paralysis

• Intruder hallucinations: These hallucinations involve the perception of a dangerous person or presence in the room.
• Chest pressure hallucinations: Also called incubus hallucinations, these episodes may incite feelings of suffocation or the sensation that someone is sitting on your chest. These frequently occur in tandem with intruder hallucinations.
• Vestibular-motor (V-M) hallucinations: V-M hallucinations can include feelings of movement, such as flying, or out-of-body sensations.

Research suggests that anywhere from 8% to 50% of people will go through sleep paralysis at least once in their lives. In 2011, research from the Sleep Research Society found that 7.6% of the general population had experienced it at least once. However, certain groups, like students or those dealing with mental health challenges, are more likely to experience it, with rates around 28% and 32% in those groups. 

The Historical Perspective

Sleep paralysis is not a new phenomenon. It has been documented for centuries. In ancient Babylon, around 2000 B.C., there are references to nocturnal attacks by spirits In medieval Europe. Sleep paralysis was often linked to the presence of witches or demons. The term “Old Hag Syndrome” comes from the belief that a witch, or “hag,” would sit on the chest of the victim, causing a feeling of suffocation and paralysis. In some parts of Asia, it was thought to be the work of evil spirits trying to possess or harm a person.

The first clinical account of sleep paralysis was recorded in 1664 by a Dutch physician, who wrote about a woman experiencing the condition. “The devil lay upon her and held her down,” he described. He called it “Incubus or the Night-Mare.” The term “Incubus” comes from the Latin word meaning “to sit on.”

A Christian Perspective

Though the Bible doesn’t directly address sleep paralysis, there are scriptures that relate to the spiritual struggles believers may face, which can be applied to understanding sleep paralysis. For example, 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” When we experience fear during sleep paralysis, we can take comfort in knowing that fear is not from God, and we have the authority to overcome it.

Many Christians have shared that calling on the name of Jesus during a sleep paralysis episode brings instant relief. This lines up with scriptures like Philippians 2:10, which says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Whether sleep paralysis has a spiritual element or is simply a neurological issue, countless believers can testify to the power of Jesus’ name in their lives. I discovered this truth firsthand.

My Own Encounter With Sleep Paralysis & the Old Hag

My first encounter with sleep paralysis happened back in 2014. That day is seared into my memory. It was around 8:30 in the morning, and I was exhausted from not sleeping well for days. I had just finished drying my hair and decided to lie down for a few minutes. Next thing I knew, I was awake—only I couldn’t move.

I was lying there on my back, exactly where I had laid down, but I was paralyzed. The sun was pouring through my bedroom windows, making the room bright, but then I saw something that filled me with dread. The bathroom door slowly creaked open, and out came this old, haggard woman with long, nasty hair. She burst out of the bathroom, jumped onto my bed, and climbed right onto my chest. I was trying with everything in me to scream, to move, to do anything—but I was completely frozen.

She stared down at me with these deep black holes where her eyes should’ve been, and then she started choking me while laughing hysterically. The experience felt like it would never end, but then, suddenly, I could move again. I gasped for air, my makeup was running down my face, and I was completely disheveled and out of breath. It wasn’t a dream—I know that with every fiber of my being. I’ve had nightmares before, even really bad ones, but this was different. This was real.

After that first experience, I dreaded going to bed, but thankfully, I didn’t go through it again for years. Then in 2021, it happened once more. This time, though, things were different—I had been saved, truly saved by Jesus Christ. What happened next was unlike anything I’d experienced before.

It was around 3 p.m., and I laid down for a quick nap. I fell into a deep sleep, and just like before, I woke up unable to move. Even though I was in a different house, the overwhelming feeling of fear was the same. I lay there, paralyzed with terror, half-expecting that old hag to burst out of the bathroom again. My dogs were lying beside me on the bed, completely unaware of the nightmare I was trapped in.

Then I saw it—but this time, it wasn’t the old lady. It was a man. His head appeared at the foot of the bed, just peeking over the mattress, staring right at me. His scalp was burned, no hair, just raw, red skin. His eyes were filled with pure evil, and his sinister grin revealed sharp teeth that made my heart race in fear. The more frightened I became, the wider his grin grew.

I was terrified he would hurt my dog, who was lying right there, but Petey seemed oblivious, completely unaware of the evil presence in the room. Desperate, I tried to move, to shake myself awake, but I was stuck. The figure began crawling up the bed, just like something out of a horror movie, that terrifying grin never leaving his face.

In that moment, I knew exactly what I had to do. Just as that demonic figure was about to reach me, I cried out in my mind, “In the Name of Jesus!” The instant I called on His name, I woke up, gasping for air, tears streaming down my face. I could feel the presence of Jesus in my room—I knew He had rescued me from that evil.

I haven’t experienced sleep paralysis since, and deep down, I know I never will again. That encounter felt as real as anything I’ve ever been through, and I’m certain it was calling on Jesus that saved me.

How Should Christians Respond to Sleep Paralysis?

For Christians, sleep paralysis can be a time to reflect on the reality of spiritual warfare. While not every instance of sleep paralysis is necessarily a spiritual attack, it can serve as a reminder to stay vigilant in prayer and to rely on the strength of Jesus. Ephesians 6:10-11 encourages believers to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”.

Prayer is a powerful tool, not just in the face of sleep paralysis, but in all aspects of life. If you or someone you know experiences sleep paralysis, it’s important to remember that God is in control, and He is always with us, even in the most frightening situations. Psalm 91:5-6 reassures us, “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.”

In practical terms, maintaining a healthy sleep routine, reducing stress, and creating a peaceful environment for sleep can help reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis. But above all, staying connected to God through prayer and scripture will provide the ultimate comfort and protection.

I pray that my story can help someone who may be going through this right now. God bless.