How should believers respond when experiencing spiritual "deep sleep" or "great darkness"? The Moment in Scripture “As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness came over him.” What We Notice in Abram’s Experience • God initiated the covenant while Abram was incapacitated—divine faithfulness does not depend on human strength. • The “deep sleep” (Hebrew tardemah) mirrors the kind of sleep God sent on Adam before forming Eve (Genesis 2:21), showing God’s purposeful work even when people are unaware. • “Great darkness” surrounded Abram, yet the Lord’s presence was in that very darkness (Genesis 15:17). Timeless Principles for Today • Spiritual dullness or heaviness does not cancel God’s promises. • The Lord sometimes allows seasons of obscurity to detach us from self-reliance and anchor us in His word. • Darkness can become a backdrop for a brighter revelation of God’s covenant love. How to Respond When Spiritual Deep Sleep or Great Darkness Descends 1. Anchor to God’s unchanging truth • Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Keep Scripture in front of your eyes and lips, even when feelings are flat. 2. Stay awake by conscious choice • Ephesians 5:14 — “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:6 — “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.” 3. Remember who holds the night • Psalm 139:11-12 — “Even the darkness is not dark to You… the night shines like the day.” • Trust that the Lord is equally sovereign in light and shadow. 4. Guard fellowship and corporate worship • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges gathering together; isolation intensifies spiritual slumber. 5. Practice deliberate thanksgiving • Psalm 92:1-2 models praise “in the morning” and “by night,” pushing back gloom with gratitude. 6. Expect fresh revelation • After Abram’s darkness, God confirmed covenant promises about land and descendants (Genesis 15:18-21). • Isaiah 45:3 — “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places.” Practical Steps for Daily Life • Read or listen to a portion of Scripture aloud morning and evening. • Sing a hymn or worship chorus, even quietly, when heaviness settles in. • Write down every clear promise God brings to mind; review them frequently. • Set brief alarms during the day to pause and acknowledge God’s presence. • Keep meeting with believers for mutual encouragement and accountability. Promises to Carry Forward • John 1:5 — “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” • 1 John 1:5 — “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” • Isaiah 60:1 — “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” Even when spiritual deep sleep or great darkness looms, the believer’s course is clear: cling to the Word, stay spiritually alert, trust the God who works in the dark, lean on the fellowship of the saints, and anticipate the dawn of renewed revelation. |
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