Sleepless Nights

Sleep doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m a planner, and I can be a worrier. I make lists and outlines while others are sleeping. I sometimes use those sleepless nights for God’s purposes. I can use that time to plan, or more profitably to pray. But I can also simply get in the habit of not sleeping because I think I have too much that needs doing—too much that I wrongly think depends on me. My mind won’t shut down.

If you can relate, I hope this helps: God wants to work the night shift for you. A friend once sent me a meme that said, “You might as well give your problems to God because He’s going to be up all night anyway.” The Bible says, “He gives to his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2, ESV). The Bible also says, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7, ESV). Have you asked God for sleep? It took me years to learn this simple lesson: ask for sleep. So often we have not because we ask not. Worse still, we simply form bad habits and make destructive assumptions: “I just can’t sleep at night.” When you have one of those sleepless nights, use it wisely. Spend time with God. He’s up anyway. But don’t get in the habit of staying up late. Your husband and your children need you tomorrow. Ask God to give you sleep, to give your body rest—and then allow your heart to trust Him enough to let go and rest.

WHEN YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT GOD DOES NOT SLEEP, SO THAT YOU CAN . . .

I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

WHEN YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD WILL PROTECT YOU WHILE YOU REST . . .

I cried out to the LORD,

and he answered me from his holy mountain.

I lay down and slept,

yet I woke up in safety,

for the LORD was watching over me.

WHEN YOU CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE OF WORRY . . .

Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

WHEN YOU NEED TO HEAR GOD’S HEART IS THAT HIS CHILDREN WILL SLEEP WELL . . .

You can go to bed without fear;

you will lie down and sleep soundly.

WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING YOURSELF RAGGED . . .

It is useless for you to work so hard

from early morning until late at night,

anxiously working for food to eat;

for God gives rest to his loved ones.