Your Story Matters
Have you ever felt a heaviness you couldn’t explain—like your prayers are hitting a wall, or as if you’re fighting battles no one else can see?
You’re not alone.
My name is Virginia Stewart Metzler, and if you’ve read Our God Still Speaks, you know I’ve walked through deep valleys of pain, grief, and spiritual warfare. From losing my first husband in a plane crash to navigating spiritual darkness on the mission field, I’ve experienced firsthand how real and relentless spiritual oppression can be. But I’ve also seen how faithful our God is—even in the shadows.
That’s why I’m opening up a new section of my website: a sacred space where we can begin talking about what so many suffer in silence. A space for you to share your own stories of spiritual oppression and breakthrough. A space to be honest, encouraged, and reminded that our God still speaks—and He still delivers.
This isn’t just a blog. It’s an invitation.
An invitation to stack your own “stones of remembrance,” just like Joshua did after God led His people through the Jordan. Because your story, too, is evidence of His power and presence. And your voice might be exactly what someone else needs to hear in their own battle.
Whether you’re still in the thick of the fight or have found freedom, I encourage you to be part of this growing testimony wall. Together, let’s remind each other—and the world—that spiritual oppression is real, but so is our Redeemer.
You are not forgotten. You are not crazy. And you are definitely not alone.
Share your story. Read others’. And let’s walk this journey together, one stone at a time.
With love and hope,
Virginia Stewart Metzler
For a long time, I was too afraid to talk about what I went through. I would wake up at night completely paralyzed, unable to speak or move, feeling a dark presence in the room. Sometimes I’d see shadows out of the corner of my eye during the day, or hear voices that weren’t there. I was a believer, serving in ministry, and still this happened. I thought I was losing my mind. I can’t open up to my church because I am afraid that they might think I am crazy. But your courage to name spiritual oppression for what it is, helped me realize I wasn’t crazy. I was under spiritual attack. And now I am reminded that there’s power in the name of Jesus, and I can fight back with prayer, truth, and this community your are trying to build. Thank you for making this a place where these things can finally be talked about without shame.
I’m honestly still in it. Every night feels like a battle. I wake up around 3:00 a.m. most nights to what I can only describe as a presence. It’s cold, heavy, like something watching me. Sometimes I hear whispers, and there are nights I feel like something is pressing down on my chest and suffocating me. I try to pray, but the words get stuck in my throat. I’ve tried telling people, but they either give me a Bible verse and move on, or tell me it’s all in my head. It’s isolating. But reading this blog… it was like someone finally turned on a light in this dark room I’ve been trapped in. Knowing that you walked through your own battles, and that this space exists for people like me, gives me a sliver of hope. I don’t have answers yet, but maybe I’ve found a place to start.
I don’t really talk about this stuff, but reading through the blog and the comments, I finally feel like I’m not crazy.
It started when I was in college. I’d be lying in bed and suddenly feel this weight pressing down on my chest. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, just panic. At first I thought it was sleep paralysis. But then things started happening when I was wide awake. I’d see shadows walking past my door, even when I was home alone. One night, I was brushing my teeth and caught a glimpse of a face in the mirror that wasn’t mine, and it disappeared before I could even react.
It got worse when I moved into my first apartment. I’d wake up to banging on the walls. Cabinets would be open in the morning. I even recorded audio one night and caught what sounded like whispering, my name, over and over again. I deleted it right away, too scared to listen again.
I told a pastor once. He prayed over me, but also said maybe it was stress or my imagination. I started questioning myself. But deep down, I know what I’ve experienced. It wasn’t just in my head.
Finding this blog was like taking a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding. I finally have language for what I’ve been going through, spiritual oppression. Not madness. Not attention-seeking. Real warfare. And now I know I’m not the only one.
Thank you for creating this space. I’m still going through it. I still feel the heaviness at night. But now, I feel less alone. And that’s a big step.
To Robert, Karen and Jess: NO, You are not crazy!!!
Thank you for sharing your words with the rest of us. They encouraged me, showed me that indeed, many are suffering because we have been afraid we’d be judged and some of us have been, but OUT of ignorance. Seminaries do not teach young “ministers to be,” anything about spiritual warfare that their “flock” can put to use in our ordinary or everyday lives. Being untaught in their ministeries is unthinkable for this day and age.
I will pray for you and you pray for me; we’ll get through this TOGETHER.
Reading this brought back a lot of memories. I used to be tormented every night, waking up to dark shapes in the room, hearing voices calling my name, feeling hands grip my ankles while I lay frozen in fear. I was too scared to tell anyone. I didn’t want to sound crazy. But deep down, I knew it was spiritual. And the turning point came when I stopped running and started standing. I began praying out loud, reading Scripture, and declaring Jesus’ name every time fear tried to creep in. It didn’t stop immediately, but slowly, the atmosphere changed. I went from terrified to confident. The entities didn’t just disappear, they fled. If anyone reading this is still in that dark place, please know, you are not powerless, and you are not alone. The enemy might try to torment you, but he doesn’t get the final say. There is strength in Jesus, and there will be an end to it. One day, you’ll look back, just like I am now, and realize the night didn’t win. God and I did.
To Virginia, you are so brave for sharing this. I will get a copy of your book and I will be praying for you. There will come a day when sleepless nights will b e no more.
To
Ginger:
Thank you, Ginger You have my nickname. Smile.
For 5 years, I lived in misery, fears that changed everynight, and horror. At the moment, they are back tormenting me. I sing about the blood that Jesus shed for us on Calvery. I pray aloud, for God to rescue me from their torment And in His time, HE will.
Stay tuned to this blog so that God can use us and others to encourage, pray for and bless every one of us, as we live for HIM. May our lives bring honor and praise and glory to our LORD of lords and KING of kings, JESUS.