My dreams are causing me to sin. Should I stop sleeping?

[cerulean]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

 

[cerulean]

I don't know what to do. I've asked for forgiveness from God for what I did, but I'm scared that I haven't repented the right way. Am I using God's grace as a license to sin? Am I not sorry enough? I'm so scared and guilty, I'm starting to feel like my life isn't worth living anymore.

 

[HTacianas]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

I don't think not sleeping is the solution to your problem.

I read the account once of a monk at Mt. Athos who had been overcome by the sin of fornication. It was something he spent time in prayer and fasting to get past.

Time, prayer, and self control are likely the only way through this.

 

[Sam91]

James 4:4-10

At bible study this week one of the questions likened sin as being akin to adultery. If we had a big enough view of what sin actually is maybe we would think more and not do it.

We also read Hosea 2. When God instructed Hosea to marry an adulterous wife who would cheat on him. Hosea then had to pay a lot of money to buy his wife back.

Mirroring Gods love and how much sin costs us and the price he paid in order to redeem us.

Hebrews 12:4

Also, just seen your post above. It sounds like self condemnation. Instead of worrying sit in His presence, walk His way. Trust in His forgiveness and try to sin no more.

 

[JackRT]

A dream, even a wet dream, is not a sin since it is beyond your conscious control.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Don't worry about it. Do the best you can and move on. Forget about it. God knows your struggle. It is disturbing how so many young people have put such a priority on this issue and then torture themselves with guilt, depression and despair. Other things are far more important like kindness to others, consideration of their needs and feelings.

 

[childeye 2]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

I don't believe you sinned.

 

[Sabertooth]

@cerulean ,
You are describing a "wet dream." Though explicit and, sometimes, disturbing, they do not make you guilty of anything.

From the school of thought that I subscribe to, there are two thing you can do, if you want to minimize them:

1. Stay away from porn, including romance novels and explicit music. They will only get you stirred up and are a counterfeit for married sex. It can discolor your wet dreams even further.
   
2. Practice "clean" masturbation, preemptively. That is, do it (when needed) for comfort/relief and not while fantasizing about a man who is not yours, real or imaginary.

 

[cerulean]

I don't think not sleeping is the solution to your problem.

I read the account once of a monk at Mt. Athos who had been overcome by the sin of fornication. It was something he spent time in prayer and fasting to get past.

Time, prayer, and self control are likely the only way through this.

I know that not sleeping is just going to make it worse, but I really dont know what else to do. Im so scared that when I fall asleep, I'll have another sexual dream and when I wake up, I'll sin again.

 

[cerulean]

A dream, even a wet dream, is not a sin since it is beyond your conscious control.

I know that the dream itself wasn't a sin. It's what I did when I woke up that was sinful.

 

[JesusIsLord_]

Pray everyday:

forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This helped me a lot with temptation

Do not give in, pray instead, distract your mind, go chit chat with someone. Don't watch porn either, that only feeds the thoughts

 

[Sabertooth]

I know that the dream itself wasn't a sin. It's what I did when I woke up that was sinful.

It's only a problem if you are fantasizing about a man that isn't yours, while doing it. "Wet dreams" are your body's plan B to accomplish the same thing.

Babies do that to themselves and they aren't lusting. If you do that once in a while, it will settle you down (in that area).

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

The bible tells us:

1Co 10:13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.

No temptation is too strong that it can no be resisted. God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can resist. Sure you failed this time, but try to beat it next time it happens.

 

[longwait]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

Before you sleep pray that God keeps out all satanic, demonic dreams and nightmares.

 

[Sketcher]

Lately I've been having very sexual dreams every time I go to sleep. Today, I took a nap and had a particularly tempting dream, and when I woke up, I masturbated. I feel absolutely awful about it, and now I'm terrified of sleeping. I'm scared that the next time I fall asleep, the same thing will happen. I'm so scared that I'm starting to think it might just be better to not sleep at all, and just keep pulling all-nighters until I pass out or something. I just don't want to sin against God again in this way.

How can I prevent this from happening again? Should I avoid sleep? If not, what should I do? Please, someone help me.

If you try to avoid sleep, you will only succeed in having dreams like that on a messed up sleep cycle. You can't stop sleeping. Sleeping doesn't cause that in you. It's what is in your heart that causes the brain to process it as a dream.

 

[EzekielsWheels]

Sleep is a gift from God. "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalms 4:8 (ESV). Sleep is a gift from the Lord. He does not want you not to sleep. That is a lie of the devil if you think God wants you to stay up until you collapse from exhaustion. "It is in vain that you rise early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." Psalms 127:2. (ESV).

I would consider meditating on those scriptures as a way of understanding that the Lord loves you and wants you to have your rest. He even made a day of rest for the Israelites (the Sabbath) to show how important it was!

I think sometimes nocturnal emissions happen but I would be concerned about those things that you have conscious control over. I would consider praying for holy dreams because nightmares are of the evil one. In terms of things you do have control over I do believe masturbation for any reason is a sin. That doesn't mean we don't fall into sin but we should not excuse ourselves and say it is not sexually immoral when it is.

I would take this to the Lord and ask him what is driving you to touch and try and deal with that issue. I also agree with some of the comments above do try to keep yourself from those things that tempt you.

Most importantly, God loves you and he came to save us sinners.

 

[Sam91]

Thinking on it too much is going to make you more likely to have these dreams. Spend yr time dweĺling on the Lord and His goodness and you might have diferent dreams

 

[ilovejcsog]

As far as I am concerned if you are asleep and dreaming you are not conscious. You cannot be accountable for something you can't control such as a dream. It is what you do when you wake up that you must maintain control.
I would think abstinence would also cause that kind of dream and you can't change that if that is what you are doing. Don't condemn yourself for dreams. We have so much we condemn ourselves for, don't ad to it Pray for control when awake. Remove those thoughts as fast as you can and move in another direction. Above all love yourself enough to remember that "We all sin and come short of the glory of God" All you can do is fight for freedom from sin. I also have had similar situations and the more I fight them the less they have appeared.
God bless you and give you strength