Sweet Sleep

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. . . . for the LORD will be at your side.

“Shhhhh!” I quieted my daughter as she came careening around the corner of the kitchen. I nodded toward my husband in the next room, gently snoring on the living room floor. “Dad’s sleeping.”

Her look of surprise turned to understanding, lips tilting down at the corners.

“Poor Daddy,” she said, eyes bright with sympathy. “He’s so tired.”

The truth was, he was always tired back then—and for a good reason. For several months, a pinched nerve in his neck meant that he was constantly in pain. He rarely slept soundly, and it was for small snatches of time when he did. Each morning I would awaken to see his side of the bed rumpled from his tossing and turning, abandoned when he was unable to find rest.

He’d tried several solutions without success. But after sustaining nerve damage, he realized he needed surgery. Afterward, he felt immediate relief. And with the pain gone, he was finally able to sleep again.

Sleep is restorative for both the body and the mind, and it’s an essential part of our overall health. It’s a chance for us to slow down, rest, recover. It gives our brain time to consolidate our memories, releases hormones that regulate everything from metabolism to stress, and helps us maintain alertness and executive functions during the day. Yet, it’s not always a priority for us. Lured by the entertainment of one more show in our Netflix queue or the fast-changing pace of social media, or even just wired up by the day’s worries that weigh on our minds, we sometimes struggle to gain true rest. When we do find rest, we are reminded of what a gift it truly is to us.

And even though God does not promise us a trouble-free life, he is there during the darkest hours of the night when we feel most alone. He is always by our side. As we close our eyes and drift off to sleep, we can feel secure knowing that he provides rest to those he loves (see Psalm 127:2).

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

As you get ready for bed, spend time thanking God for the gift of sleep.