Why do I drift off to sleep when praying in tongues? This is a common question I receive from many believers. Today, I found myself in the same situation.
It’s not the first occurrence and so I understand this kind of an event. In this article, I will delve into this phenomenon and offer some insights.
Recently, I experienced quite a long and busy day. Upon returning home, I was very exhausted and unrestful. Despite feeling tired, I made up my mind to pray before taking a nap. After praying continuously for about an hour and a half, I felt sleepy and decided to finally take a nap.
It was at this point when I thought of the common belief that sleepiness during prayer is an attack from the devil. In my view, it all depends on the situation.
Based on my personal encounters, I find that when one prays in tongues and subsequently falls asleep, it is often a result of God’s intervention. This belief is supported by the Bible, which states that sleep is indeed a blessing given by God.
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The same is echoed in the book of Psalms which also highlights the blessing of sleep and rest.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:2
In the scripture above, the Lord says that He is the one who grants rest to His people. Specifically, He provides peaceful sleep during the night.
Through this understanding, I have realized that when praying in tongues, we are actively engaging in work. This is something that we sometimes overlook.
You see, when praying in tongues, we are essentially doing the same thing as the people of the world. The only difference is that, for us, we are laboring for the Lord or striving to attain peace and rest from Him.
On the other hand, the people of the world work to find peace and rest through their pursuit of sinful desires and other wicked things.
Ultimately, because you have been seeking God and He has promised His rest, you can find solace at the end of the day.
In summary, it is not unusual for you to drift off to sleep while praying in tongues and neither is it always an attack by the enemy. More often, the peaceful atmosphere created during prayer naturally induces relaxation and comfort, allowing you to rest peacefully. Blessings!