Joseph Prince - God's Way to Battling Nighttime Anxiety (01/26/2026)
Night seasons—times of darkness, weeping, fear, or depression—are part of life this side of heaven, but they are temporary ("weeping may endure for a night"). God promises joy comes in the morning through Christ. In night seasons, see yourself shielded by God ("I am your shield"), meditate on His Word ("hearing and hearing"), declare "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" to resist accusations, and stand steadfast in faith—turning fear into peace, accusations into condemnation of the enemy, and darkness into beautiful days.
Understanding Night Seasons in Life
I want to talk to you, I want to share with you about your night seasons. If you are going through something right now, even though right now you're on high, you don't feel like you're going through anything. You know, you can tear a lion apart and knock down that bear and stone that Goliath. You feel like you're in that place.
There are many who are going through a night season. And you know something? We will all go through it. This is not a prophecy. This is just something that is life. Amen.
As long as you're on this side of heaven, one day, the Bible says in Revelation 22, there will be no more night in heaven. I love that phrase, there will be no more night. No more tears, no more crying. Amen.
But perhaps you're going through a dark season. Perhaps you're going through a depressed time. Perhaps you're going through a time that you don't understand. You don't understand God even. Amen.
You know, the Lord knows what you're going through. More than anybody else, He knows exactly what you're going through.
Night Seasons in Scripture – Temporary Weeping
And I just want to show you that in the Bible, the Bible talks a lot about night scenes, night events, night seasons. In Psalms 16, the Bible tells us, David says, I'll bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
So David even went through a night season. And during the night season, the Bible says this, you all notice, joy cometh in the morning, right? But before that, what does it say? Weeping may endure for a night.
Weeping may endure for a night. It endures only for a night. So the night season is a season of trial. It's a season where you are weeping, where it's not pleasant. You're wondering what's going on.
But God says, morning is coming. Amen. Morning is coming. And with the morning, you know who comes in that morning? Joy. Here the word joy comes, it's like a person. The person of joy is our Lord Jesus.
So remember this, joy comes in the morning.
Abraham's Night Season After the Mountaintop
Now, even for us, word of faith people, and we word of grace people, we who are filled up with the Holy Spirit right now, we are excited. We have partaken of the Lord's Supper. We have received from the Lord. Amen?
You just took the Lord's Supper, right? Amen? You are people that are tithing. Like where Abraham was, he received communion. He tithed as love, as Thanksgiving to the Lord. And then you should think that he's in a good place, right?
The very next chapter, it says, after these things, and chapter 15 verse 1 comes after Genesis 14, which is where Melchizedek met him. He has partaken of the Lord's Supper. He has responded to the Lord.
The Lord has spoken the words that he's blessed. Blessed be Abraham of the Most High God. He's in a very good place.
The Lord says, after these things, the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision, saying, do not be afraid, Abraham. I am your shield.
Is it a vision? That means it's a vision of a shield. Megan in Hebrew. Magan. Magan is like a shield. And it's not just a shield. Like a Roman soldier has a shield in front. It's a shield that is all around. It's a shield that's all around.
I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward. This Hebrew word, your exceedingly great reward, is the word reward here, is the word they use for salary. Amen.
Now, we know that he has just tithed, right? So, I'm not just saying that it's because of the tithe. I'm not saying that. But what I'm saying is that the Lord wants His eyes to be opened to two things.
Number one, don't be afraid. Now, why would Abraham be afraid? After a great mountaintop experience, after a great experience in like a conference, why should he be afraid?
Well, he just conquered four generals and their armies. Come on. He got back, not just Lot, a lot of spoils. And the victory was given to him by the Lord.
Now, he's thinking maybe, you know, how many of you have moments whereby, you know, you're praying for the sick and great things happen and wonderful things happen and bang, all of a sudden, you know, in the middle of the night, you start thinking to yourself, whoa, what if the devil counterattacks?
And I've served the Lord. What if, what if? Come on. Have you been there before?
So, probably Abraham was tossing and turning, thinking, the enemies are coming. The generals are coming. What am I going to do?
God's Response: Shield and Exceedingly Great Reward
And that's why the word, the first word is, don't be afraid. Al tira, Avram. Al tira, in Hebrew. Don't be afraid.
And the word came to him in a vision form. It's a shield. See yourself surrounded with a shield. At night, when you are under attack, you can't sleep. See yourself safe. See yourself surrounded by a shield.
Surrounded with songs of deliverance. Job says, where are the people that would say, where are they? Literally, where are they who will say, where is God, my maker, who gives songs in the night?
Songwriters, it tells you clearly in the Bible, God gives songs in the night. Also, the night seasons.
Now, when I talk about night here, I'm not just referring to the night seasons alone. It can be your night. Literally, the greatest problem you have, the greatest challenges are at night.
Maybe you can't sleep. Well, this message is for you. What is happening? Why night time is so severe for me? Why is it so depressive? Why is it so hard for me to sleep? That's for you as well. Literally, your own night.
So here, Abraham is experiencing this. And I know he's tossing and turning. How do I know that? Because later on, God told him, Abraham, come out and count the stars. Or see if you can tell the story of the stars. Remember that? Same scene.
So I know he was tossing and turning. He can't sleep. It doesn't say that God gave him a dream. It says the Word of the Lord came in a vision. He was lying down there. He can't sleep.
So now, as Abraham's seed, as sons and daughters of Abraham, remember this, when you can't sleep, see the shield. Sheep cannot rest when they are insecure. Amen?
And feel secure. Don't be afraid. Al-Tira. Tell yourself, don't be afraid. The Lord is a shield unto you.
But I've spent so much. He's your exceedingly great reward. Not just reward. Not just great reward. Exceedingly great reward. Like the land flowing with milk and honey.
One translation says, very, very good land. Literally in the Hebrew, exceedingly good land. God doesn't sting on you. Amen?
It's not just a good land. It's not just a good reward. It's exceedingly great reward. Amen?
And also this chapter, Genesis 15. The Lord told him after that, come out, Abraham. Look at the stars. So we know it's night time. It's night time, right? We can see the stars, it's night time.
The stars are actually out there, even during day time. You can't see it. But how we see them during our night seasons. Amen? They shine so bright. Hallelujah.
So, in the night seasons, we got to know that God is also, the devil is active, but God is even more during that time wanting to turn the whole thing around into your favor.
The devil may roar in the night season, and he roars really loud. How many realize that at night, you can hear him roar very loud?
Am I the only one? The daytime is okay. I mean, you hear the roar, but it's like a cat's meow, you know? But it still irritates you.
But at night, when everyone is asleep, wow. Meditate. If the devil wants to keep you awake, let him pay.
That's why it says, you shall meditate on my word. Day. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate. And he shall be. I will say the next day, he shall be.
Like a tree planted. I don't know how many times I've meditated, and then I fall asleep. Into a deep sleep. I'm telling you, God is my witness.
There are times I cannot sleep. I'll just meditate. If I can't sleep, meditate. Take advantage of the moment to meditate on things I've been wanting to meditate.
It's time to chew the cat. Like the sheep. You know, like the cow. After they are well fed, they sit down there, they chew.
What have I learned? This verse that spoke to me just now, it's time for me to masticate it. Meditate on it. Chew it. Becomes milk. Becomes bones. And become meat and flesh. And strength and health. Amen?
Meditate on it. And how many times I've done that? Fall asleep. Next thing you know, it's morning. Amen?
Now don't get up, listen to rock music. Or rap. Or watch TV. Meditate.
God's Provision: Sleep for His Beloved
So, God speaks to man while he's sleeping. But also, he gives us sleep. So, if you're having trouble with sleep and all that, number one, you need to realize that there is the provision where God gives sleep.
Can I have a good amen? Ask God for it. But you need to understand that God gives His beloved sleep.
You must have a sense that you are loved. Establish that first. Don't struggle with sleep. Don't struggle with sleep.
Establish the fact, I'm God's beloved. Until it's so established in your heart. That at night when you sleep, you find yourself being cradled in His bosom. Amen? Amen?
Also, in John chapter 1, it says, Jesus said these words. The Spirit of God says, The Son of Man who is in the bosom of the Father. Present tense.
But His feet was on earth. But the Son of Man who is in the bosom of the Father. The Gospel of John is a story of bosom. Of love.
John rested on Jesus' bosom. Jesus rested on the Father's bosom. Even when He was unearthed. He rested on God's love for Him. Amen?
When He was tempted or tested by the devil in the wilderness, what do you say? Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Right? There's a first temptation, right? And there was a first response. But what did the Father just tell Him? The Father just said to Him, You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.
And Jesus lived by... He says, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word. You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.
I find my nourishment in every word that just came from my Father's mouth. Every word of God. Man does not live, but by that word.
Oh, come on! Hallelujah! You are God's beloved! You are God's yeti-Diya!
Overcoming Worry and Negative Thoughts
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This is the body of Christ. Amen? We are meant to live together. Love one another. Forbear one another. Bear with each other. Minister one to another. Serve one another.
The body of Christ is never meant to be lived alone. It's meant to be lived interdependently. Amen?
So when you are down, somebody else is up. And they'll pray for you. It is truly an expression of God's love for each other when we are praying in the Spirit.
Because you are praying for people and situations that you don't even know of. Amen? And I want to encourage you, if you can, pray in the Spirit. Pray in tongues.
Because when you pray in tongues, you transcend your prayer in the English language or your known language. Because when you pray in your known language, you are limited to what you know, who you know, the situations you know about.
But when you pray in the Spirit, you transcend all that. You can even pray for your future. Amen? Praise the Lord.
Resisting the Enemy Steadfast in the Faith
In 1 Peter 5, let's read 1 Peter 5. I like the word seeking and the word may. That means the devil can't just walk out of his house one day. He doesn't have a house, but you know, I'm just expressing.
And just say, okay, I'll kill this one. Okay, I'll... No, he has to seek home he may. That's very encouraging. As far as you are concerned, keep him seeking. Amen?
And then it says, resist the devil, steadfast in the faith. The word resist in the Greek is the word antihistamine. Isn't that interesting? Antihistamine. Resist.
If we get the word antihistamine. The doctors give you antihistamine for your flu or your allergies, right? Antihistamine means withstand.
How do you withstand the enemy? Steadfast in the faith. Knowing the same sufferings are experienced by your brother brotherhood in the world.
There's something about brotherhood and sisterhood that God wants you to learn in this warfare business. The devil wants you isolated. He wants you to think that your problem is uniquely your own because you are a strange person.
You look at your friend. They're all happy and all that. You are strange. You see the thoughts that go to your mind. Only you have this kind of thoughts. Only you wake up in the middle of the night. Only you have this depression. Only you.
So the problem is this. The devil likes to isolate people. And that's why the Gadarin demoniac, he was all by himself, All alone and all forlorn. All sad by himself. And he was cutting himself, suicidal and all that.
But notice, he was by himself. It's the work of the enemy to cause antisocial behaviour and also to isolate you from people.
Now, you think that we are more connected. Actually, we are more connected in terms of social media, but we are less... we are less in touch. We are not communicating.
If only we can sit down. And pastors do that a lot. We pastors, we have learned to be vulnerable to each other. I'll tell them, do you all wake up in the middle of the night now? Like, for no reason you wake up and you can't sleep.
And you start having bad thoughts. You know, bad thoughts about your family, bad thoughts about the future, bad thoughts. And you feel like you are, you know, like a dark thought come, dark thoughts come on you.
Do you feel that way? And then someone says, hey pastor, these few days I feel the same way. You know? So, in that brotherhood, there is that expression. And you realize, hey, I'm normal. I'm normal. I'm also normal. Amen?
We are all under attack. Let's pray for one another. You need that brotherhood in a care group. It's one of the best places. You need to be connected with... God wants the church to be relational.
It's not meant to be Lone Ranger. Even Lone Ranger got Tonto. Alright? But God wants you to be related to each other. Amen? Can I have a good amen?
So, don't just come to church and go off, you know? Get connected somehow. Get connected. In a care group or in a ministry, get connected.
I mean, get people you can call on when you are down or whatever. And when you share, something happens. Even half the burden is lifted when you start sharing. Amen? The rest the Lord will take care of.
Sisterhood is the same. God wants you to have. So, that last part, keep that in mind.
Steadfast in the Faith: Righteousness by Faith
Now, go to steadfast. Resist Him steadfast in the faith. Now, what is steadfast in the faith? Steadfast in the faith means... And I'm bringing this to a close.
So, steadfast in the faith means, stand tall and say, I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am the righteous... How do I know this is referring to righteousness by faith?
Because I'll show you one more passage and then we'll close. Go to Galatians 3. The word, the faith. Resist Him steadfast in the faith. Definite article.
Today, look up here. Today, when people ask you, what is your faith? You say, I'm a Christian. But that's not the way Paul used it last time.
When you talk about the faith, definite article, is always justification by faith. So, here it says, But before faith came, Before faith came, we were kept under God by the law.
Kept for the faith which will afterwards be revealed. Now, before faith came, there's a definite article there. The faith. But it's missing here in English. But actually, in the Greek, there is. The faith.
Before justification by faith came. Pastor, how do you know he's referring to justification by faith? The next verse, the context.
Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ. That we might be justified by faith. The whole context is justified by faith.
After faith has come again. After the faith has come. Justification by faith has come. We are no longer under the law. Under the tutor.
So, you know what you're saying when the devil comes to accuse you? Even when you're sleeping at night, the devil puts bad thoughts on you. Or bad imaginations.
You say, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. Something happens. Because just that when you say, yes, I'm guilty. Or you accept it. You come under that saying God is a liar. Or the devil is true, right.
And God is not satisfied with what Jesus did. Likewise, when you say, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. You're saying a mouthful.
You're saying, God is satisfied with what Jesus did. Jesus offered a perfect offering on my behalf. His blood has fully met all the claims of justice.
Amen. And I am righteous because Jesus did a perfect work. He became my sin. Now I take my place as righteous.
The moment the devil knows that, he flees from you. Because listen carefully. If the devil slandered the righteousness that took full note of all your sins. Not one of them escaped. And exacted a full penalty for all your sins.
And yet, if the devil slander now that throne of righteousness of God. Now righteousness is to declare you justified. It is unrighteousness to declare yourself not justified.
Because of what Jesus did. So, if you take sides with what God has said about you, you are justified. And the devil comes to attack you with an accusation.
You say, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. Whether verbally or inwardly. Alright. You know that. Something happens to the devil. Now he becomes guilty.
Condemning Every Accusing Tongue
Listen. In the course of justice, if an accuser accused someone falsely, the accuser becomes as guilty as the person he's accusing had the accusation been justified.
Let me explain. If an accuser is aiming to say someone, he's like accusing someone of murder. You think it's just murder? No. He's saying he deserves death. He's aiming for his death.
The accuser is aiming for his death because murder carries the death penalty. Now, if the whole charge is false, now the accuser becomes guilty of the same crime because he's aiming for his death. Now he's a murderer.
So, the moment you take your position saying, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ, the whole thing falls back on the devil. He dare not handle a Christian like that. You understand? Because he will have to bear the penalty.
Follow what I'm saying? And that's why we close with, No weapon formed against you shall prosper. And every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn.
Don't condemn the person saying it. If your husband says something to you, and by the way, please, please don't, after this message and all that, go to your husband every time she says something to you, don't abuse me or you, I bind that in Jesus' name. I bind you in Jesus' name. I tie you up in Jesus' name. I send you to hell.
Please don't do that, okay? Don't let your husband curse me, can I not? So there's something about this whole scenario about accepting guilt and falling sick or mentally depressed and having psychological problems and declaring you're the righteousness of God in Christ.
By the same token, what comes on the heels of righteousness? Health, wholeness, peace, stability, poise, power, peace of mind. It's powerful.
Every tongue that rises against you, whether you read about it, you hear the devil tells you something accusatory, or someone, the devil uses people a lot.
When you see all those words coming against you, just say, I condemn all those words. Don't condemn the people. I condemn all those words. I reject them because I'm the righteousness of God in Christ.
You understand what I'm saying? Now that doesn't cover people who correct you because they love you. People who improve you because they love you.
So, discern carefully and don't go on a tangent on this. But many times, the devil uses people to accuse you. And it's very general. You know, they accuse you of things that you haven't done right or, you know, it's just accusing.
Just say, in Jesus' name, in your heart, I reject that. Or your mother has passed away or your father has passed away. And growing up, they say, you're useless. You're always this, always that. And now it still haunts you.
They say, in Jesus' name, I resist that. You don't have to condemn your father or mother. Just resist at those words. Shake it off you, in Jesus' name.
And say, I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. And start to prosper. Because the thief will have to stop stealing, killing, and destroy, as far as you are concerned.
Because you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Amen. Praise the Lord.