“Hello, if you’ve come to this video, you or someone close to you has probably had experiences with nighttime awakenings, right? Waking up during the night is quite common and can have countless causes, from physical and emotional problems to effects caused by dietary habits, things during the day, and so on. But what about when this awakening happens very frequently, always at the same time at 3:00 in the morning? It can’t be just a coincidence, right? In today’s video, we will analyze the main reasons mentioned by science, popular beliefs, and religions that try to explain and advise those who suffer from this ailment or are graced with a great opportunity. Are you intrigued? Right, then stay with us and let’s learn a little more about ourselves together.
We all know that having a good night’s rest is essential, right? During sleep, our body not only rests but also works on important functions that cannot be carried out during the day, such as eliminating toxins, regulating hormones, organizing memories, restoring muscles. Our consciousness may be at rest, but everything else is in full swing to prepare us for the challenges of the next day. However, there are many factors, indeed many, that can influence our sleep routine. Among the most common things nowadays are the time spent in front of screens, including mobile phones, computers, television, etc. Dietary habits, the increase in consumption of processed foods to the detriment of natural foods, work hours, physical exercise practices, as well as physical and emotional conditions. Insomnia, depression, and anxiety are among the main causes of sleep disorders and, unfortunately, are quite common nowadays. They can be the cause or consequence of poorly slept nights. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical help if you notice any persistent disturbance that prevents you from having a good night’s sleep.
However, there are cases where it’s hard to believe that nighttime awakenings are motivated by these more common causes we just mentioned. Sometimes, they have short durations, can come and go with some frequency, or disappear and then return without explanation. But something quite curious and unusual always happens at the same time, specifically at 3:00 in the morning. This mystery immediately grabs attention because physical and natural phenomena are not so logical and precise. If something is affecting our sleep, it will probably manifest in morning fatigue, delay in falling asleep, waking up one or several times during the night, more or less randomly indicating that something is wrong but manifesting in various ways. So waking up always at a specific time is a sign that perhaps the underlying cause is not so random; maybe there’s something behind this, something that can control us or at least influence us.
Some perspectives will say that this is a bad sign, but others consider it a blessing, an opportunity to get closer to God. Let’s understand this better. There is a popular belief that 3:00 in the morning is the devil’s hour, the moment when the evil one has greater power over the Earth and people, being able to tempt us and spread evil more easily. Have you heard of this? So we cannot confirm such a claim, of course, because it’s a mystical, spiritual phenomenon. But many people relate it to the increase in accidents, robberies, tragedies, in addition to the distress that can affect those who are awake or were awakened at that hour. And this is not exclusive to our culture. Several suspense and horror films use this maxim in their narratives. Productions from the United States and other countries clearly depict or suggest on clocks in scenes that the peak of possessions and evil manifestations always coincides with this 3:00 in the morning hour.
But where does this idea come from? Huh, it is not certain, but it is most likely the result of ancient religious traditions, especially those related to Christianity. This is because the Bible tells us that Jesus suffered on the cross at 3:00 in the afternoon, consummating his sacrifice to free us, redeeming our sins. Then it started to be said that Satan uses the period of 3:00 in the morning to tempt and condemn us, almost as a way of mocking God. There is nothing in the scriptures to confirm this; however, there are passages that describe the suffering of Christ who gave himself for us to save us. The fact is narrated by all four evangelists, but let’s take a look at Mark’s perspective, one of the most poetic. In verses 33 and 34 of chapter 15, it says the following: at noon until 3:00 in the afternoon, there was darkness over the whole land. About 3:00 in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani,’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’
Moving a bit further between verses 37 and 39, it is written: with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the Centurion who stood there in front of Jesus saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely, this man was the Son of God.’ This excerpt, in addition to confirming that Jesus consummated his sacrifice at 3:00 in the afternoon, points out the most important thing, which is often forgotten: he is truly the Son of God, not just a descendant as we are accustomed to in our humanity but consubstantial with the Father. That is, Jesus is also God. We are emphasizing this to highlight that at least from the Christian perspective, it makes no sense to think that Satan would use the early morning to mock Christ, thus mocking the Creator himself.
In this view, God and Satan cannot be opposed enemies on equal terms, as we have already discussed in other videos on this channel. The devil was an angel who rebelled against the Creator; therefore, he is also a creature. Hence, his power cannot and should not be compared to the Divine. Thus, everything that Satan does, as malevolent as it may seem to our eyes, needs God’s permission and, according to his plans, will serve for the glorification of his kingdom. It’s interesting to think this way, right? With this, we are not saying that there cannot be tests, releases, or spiritual battles at 3:00 in the morning. All of this can happen at that time, just like any other. We are only pointing out that these and all other things happen only with Divine permission; therefore, it is superficial to think that Satan is simply mocking the sacrifice of our savior.
But if it is God who waits directly or allows something to do so, what would be the reasons for this? Well, there is no shortage of reasons, right? And probably most of them are reserved for the plans and knowledge of the Creator. However, perhaps we can make some inferences. In Psalm 119:147 and 148, it is written: ‘I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watch of the night that I may meditate on your promise.’ The Psalms are songs, praises directed to God. They were written over many years of the history of the people of Israel, and besides being acts of worship, they are an expression of the tradition and relationship of the creator with his people. Therefore, we can conclude that as written, this nighttime period may be historically and traditionally dedicated
to strengthening ties with God and improving our connection, our intimacy with the Divine.
In this sense, we can consider this early morning hour as a kind of retreat. Not in terms of space, as we are hardly going to move away from where we are, but in terms of time, dedicating the moment to be completely in front of God in meditation and prayer. This is recurrent in the Sacred Scriptures and can be observed in the behavior of the people, the prophets, and even Jesus. A retreat, as it still happens today, is a time to eliminate distractions, isolate oneself to improve contact with the Divine. As already mentioned, it is possible to increase intimacy, get closer to God, besides being an opportunity for meditation, to reflect on aspects of life, especially in the face of important decisions.
In the Book of Luke 6:12-13, it says: ‘In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve whom he named Apostles.’ In this passage, we can observe that even Jesus, facing an important decision, withdraws to be with God, and the period he chose was the night. With this, we can believe that being awakened during the early morning could be an invitation from God to prayer, a call to be with him, to worship him. The next time it happens to you, take the opportunity to meditate and reflect on your life, your faith journey, if there is anything you want or need to change or if there is an important choice you need to make. If this is your case, accept it as an opportunity and enjoy it.
But there is another aspect that we can analyze. According to Christian doctrine, we are all called to be intercessors, as the spirit of God dwells in us and can always be called upon to pray for our family, friends, community, work, or even for those we do not know. This shows a sign of altruism and charity, virtues that were preached by Christ. Perhaps this opportunity we are talking about goes beyond simply praying for others but may be part of something bigger, a battle between good and evil in which we are also called to fight. Paul warns us in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 6:11 and 12: ‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.’
We are not contradicting, asserting that the kingdom of God is in danger due to the schemes of the devil. This battle was already won by Jesus on the cross, who defeated evil once and for all. Nevertheless, until his glorious second coming and the day of judgment, we must remain vigilant, interceding in this spiritual battle so that evil spirits do not distort souls, do not corrupt us with sin. God made us free, even to distance ourselves from him if that is our will. Therefore, it is not a matter of winning or losing but of not losing souls and bringing them as many as possible to salvation. Therefore, being awakened at 3:00 in the morning may be a call to intercede against some evil that may be trying to take hold of you or someone close. Our best weapon is prayer; therefore, praying at these moments can bring healing, deliverance, and liberation to those who need it.
Another aspect that is directly related to this but is shared especially from the Catholic perspective: In 1935, Sister Fatina, now known as Saint Fatina, had a revelation from Christ himself who instituted this 3:00 hour as an opportunity to connect directly with him, pleading and begging for his mercy. The consecrated one wrote in her diary the instructions of Jesus. Let’s take a look at a fragment: ‘I remind you, my daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in my mercy, adoring and glorifying it, invoke its omnipotence for the whole world and particularly for poor sinners. For at that moment, mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour, you can obtain everything for yourself and for others. In this hour, the grace of the Eternal Father flows abundantly upon the whole world. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to my mercy.’
Here, just like in the biblical passage, it is highlighted that Christ suffered at 3:00 in the afternoon. Therefore, this is an emblematic hour that forever marked a connection between the material and spiritual worlds. Although it occurred in the nighttime period, as our time is cyclical, the hour also extended to the night, repeating twice a day. According to Catholic tradition, at this moment, Jesus left Sister Fatina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a variant of the Rosary, a devotional given to men by the Virgin Mary. Here, it has specific prayers to pray and meditate on Divine Mercy and is widely used by those who profess this faith. However, despite these specificities of some doctrines, the 3:00 hour is special and shared among many religions, not only those with Christian roots. Buddhism also points to a milestone for connection with the higher force, and even Chinese medicine, which does not necessarily link to a belief, relates nighttime awakenings to bodily energy flows, indicating that depending on the hour, some region of our body may be asking for attention.
But if you have a skeptical viewpoint, there are also answers. According to Greg Muray, director of the mental health center at an Australian university, this phenomenon of waking up several times at 3:00 in the morning can be observed in one out of every three people. His studies pointed out that there may be three main causes for this. This is the moment when body temperature rises again, which can cause discomfort. Drowsiness state may increase as melatonin secretion peaks and begins to decrease. Cortisol levels, the stress hormone, begin to increase. All of this is related to the body’s regulation to wake up as dawn approaches. And
for you, what does this mean? Are they just physiological manifestations or really an invitation, a call from God? For today, that’s all. See you in the next video. A big hug. Goodbye.”
