By popular demand, we have posted this article which appeared in our October 2016 issue discussing whether imaginary friends may be a demon in disguise. Please feel free to “chime in” and let us know your thoughts!
Many children develop imaginary friends in their lifetime, and most parents find it cute or endearing. We’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that it is a sign of an extremely creative mind and have accepted that it is a normal part of a child growing up. We comfort ourselves with the fact that even though this imaginary friend often causes our child to act up, it’s only temporary and the child will outgrow it. However, what we are not asking ourselves is whether these imaginary friends are simply a childhood creation or a demon.
Imaginary Friend or Demon?
As parents, we can’t fathom the possibility of our child having a conversation or playing with a demon. We lull ourselves with the belief that they are so innocent, that a demon can’t possibly present itself to them. Yet, that same innocence is why children can see into the supernatural realm.
They can because they don’t know what it is, but they do know that it exists. Kids don’t have a filter that says that they can’t see it and they don’t understand its potential danger. No one is equipping them or protecting them, because some parents don’t think that it’s possible for children.
We’ve been told by “experts” in child psychology that children are creative and have big imaginations. All you have to do is look at a child while playing to see that their world has unlimited possibilities. No parent ever wants to, nor should they, take that innocence away. We should, however, protect it and protect our children from harm.
A World Without Borders
Children live in a world without self-imposed borders and where anything is possible. We delight in our infant’s “baby babble”, our children’s animals that become their companions, and watching them play. It’s a normal part of growing up and should be cherished.
Yet, have you ever noticed that when your baby babbles it’s usually “at” something? Sometimes their eyes will track something in the room. Then, when you look in that direction, there is nothing there! We wonder with amazement at what exactly is so engaging.
Just Because You Can’t See a Demon Doesn’t Mean They Can’t
One of my twin sons used to babble and giggle at great length in his crib. We would find him sitting up, quite content, having what sounded like a very animated conversation. His brother, the other twin, used to track an image throughout the church and smile.
He would also wake up with a piercing scream in the middle of the night. We would find him sitting bolt- upright in his crib looking horrified.
My youngest, on his birthday, received a stuffed, interactive bear from a family member. It was the ideal gift for him, and we were confident that he would love it! However, after opening the gift, he didn’t want anything to do with it. When we put it in his room, he screamed. Every time that bear went in his room, he would scream until we removed it. After that, he would settle down and go to sleep.
It wasn’t just baby babble that we were hearing from the oldest of our twins. Our eyes were opened to the fact that he was actually talking to an angel who was entertaining him. The youngest twin wasn’t just screaming for no reason, he was seeing a demon. In church, he was tracking an angel – we know this because he actually said the word, “angel” and pointed.
Our youngest wasn’t afraid of a bear, he was afraid of the demon attached to the bear. Once we cast it out and put the bear back in his room, he happily played with it. To this date, it is one of his favorite toys.
Can Imaginary Friends Be Demons?
Mark 9:17-21 quotes an adult who was afflicted with a spirit from childhood, “And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit… And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.”
All of these examples prove that children can see into the spiritual realm. I also know this because I experienced it myself as a child. However, I didn’t understand what I was seeing, or why it was there. My parents didn’t understand what was going on, so there weren’t able to help me. So, if children can see into the spiritual realm, a demon masking as an imaginary friend isn’t that impossible.
If this imaginary friend is continually engaging your child in bad behavior, it could be a demon. Demons will tell your children to do things, and make it sound like fun. Since children are still learning about consequences, what a demon says sounds like fun at the time. However, is not much fun after they are caught.
My Friend Made Me Do It
Parents will often hear, “But _______ made me do it.”.
Never underestimate the name. Many times it’s not made up, but can be the demon’s actual name. If we take it back to Luke 8:30 where Jesus asked the demon in the possessed man what its name was, we note that it answered, “Legion” (for we are many).
The demon will oftentimes give the child its name (they are very boastful!). Many times, the name may not be an actual name as we know it. It may sound odd or contrived by a child’s imagination. However, make no mistake, it’s real, and if an imaginary friend is disrupting the peace over your house, or if you child is not behaving as him/herself, you might be dealing with a demon.
How Did They Enter My House?
You might be asking yourself how demons can enter when you are a devout believer, or if you have pled the blood around your house. The answers are simpler for adults, but not as simple for children.
Many times, we don’t know how a demon gains access. It may be a sin from the parent, the child may have innocently contacted it or played demonic game). However we do know that a child that does not know their authority cannot cast it out. Only a parent can take their authority over the situation.
The reason can be that the child has a great calling on their life. This may be true if they frequently see demons. Demons will:
- Try to prevent the child from experiencing God
- The child may be operating in spiritual discernment
- Your child may be able to see into the supernatural realm
Either way, this thing needs to go!
You Have to Go!
For us, we asked God to reveal to us the source of our sons’ distress. Three out of four of our boys have seen demons, and only one adopted it as a friend. In the child who adopted it as a friend, we noticed that his behavior did a 180 for no apparent reason (see the article on teaching your child authority in this issue for further explanation). It was after God revealed the source that we began to take action.
We sat our son down and talked to him. He knew this spirit was evil. It was causing him to do bad things, but he said they sounded like fun. Furthermore, it told him that he wouldn’t get into trouble (definitely sounds like a demon!).
We explained to him that he was talking to a demon (God had revealed it to us previously). We needed to get rid of it because it wasn’t good, wasn’t godly, and it would get him into trouble.
He nodded, and we cast the demon out. His behavior reverted back to his normal sweet self. Yet, the demon did return as he had invited it back in. He did not fully understanding that this was not something that was allowed in our house.
It took some time to explain to him what demons were, and why this particular spirit needed to leave.
We had to explain to him that even though it was telling him things that sounded like fun, they were bad. We asked him whether a “real friend” would tell him to do bad things all the time. He said, no. We asked him whether getting punished all the time made it worth the friendship. The demon wasn’t getting punished like he did. His little lips pursed, and he angrily said, no.
He finally understood.
Taking Authority
We had to teach our child about taking his authority over demonic spirits, and once he understood he became quite a force! Demons left, in Jesus name, and he had a new confidence knowing his authority in Christ.
We also prayed discernment over him so that he would know what type of spirit he was talking to. It was also about at the same time that he gave his life to Christ, and he meant it with his whole heart. He is still able to see both angels and demons, but walks in confidence.
On a side note, we also taught him about faith in response to persistent demands for toys. The money for toys was not on our priority list. So, we would tell him that if he really wanted it, then he would have to pray. He needed to pray for the means to be provided, or to receive it as a gift.
What we didn’t anticipate was that as he earnestly prayed, and his prayers were continually answered!
This taught us to never underestimate the depths of faith, nor the abilities of children.
No Such Thing as Small Spirits!
God doesn’t give our children a “smaller” spirit than He gives adults, and if Satan can’t get us, he will go after our children. This article wasn’t designed to alarm parents, but to make them aware of all the possibilities. With some children, imaginary friends may just be a creative outlet, and others it may be to combat loneliness.
Some children may develop imaginary friends to deal with trauma or perceived stress, and that should never be discounted. However, in the absence of anything else, we should always consult God as to what is going on.
Many things are dismissed that are spiritual in nature. This same spirit if left unchecked can do damage to the family. It may leave and often does when the child grows in spiritual understanding. It may also depart as the child is told that imaginary friends don’t exist. Yet, you have to wonder what has been sown into the child at that point. Has the demon done spiritual damage? Is there residue?
We Didn’t Know…
Don’t worry if you didn’t know- many parents didn’t. Mine didn’t know about the supernatural, and I turned out fine. I suppressed seeing demons as I got older because I was told that they didn’t exist. I accepted it as fact even though I often had nightmares and could sense the presence of evil.
The drawback for me (personally) was the knowledge that there was a supernatural world, yet I didn’t understand it, and the occult was a draw for me. As an adult, even though I was raised in the church, I ended up giving my life to Christ and learned about the supernatural realm. Suddenly everything made sense.
If you fall into this category, it’s not too late. You can discuss it with your children. If they are adults, you can also pray that they receive the revelation. God will answer your prayers. If you have children, and they are going through this, help them to understand the supernatural realm. Teach them that demons do exist.
Encourage them to “do battle” because it will also prepare them for adult life as a believer. It will build up their faith. And never underestimate the power of imaginary friends. Seek wisdom as to whether this is creativity at work, or indeed a demon.
