Finding Rest in Sleepless Nights

Sleep. Oh that blessed gift of God that refreshes, replenishes, and renews us day by day. It’s glorious, isn’t it? At least, it is when we can get it! Unfortunately, that sweet slumbering state is too quick to make its exit; or so it is in my life, anyway. Daily pressures, relational struggles, pain, grief, hopes, dreams, plans (or fears!) of the future threaten to snatch away my blissful slumber and keep me from the rest I so desperately need. 

Do you ever feel that way? When your head hits the pillow, instead of peacefully drifting off to sleep, your mind wants to take the opportunity of the quiet moment to process every blessed (and unblessed!) thing that pops into your head. The struggle for sleep is so real sometimes, isn't it?

A Sleepless Solution

When I find my mind a-swirl with thoughts when I should be sleeping, I turn to my God, the One who knows my need even before I do. One of my favorite verses to ponder in moments like these is one that King David wrote:

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” Psalm 4:8 (ESV).

David was no stranger to sleepless nights. He was often hunted by enemies who wanted to take his life, and as king, no doubt he felt the weight of many serious daily burdens. And yet, he was able to both lie down and sleep in peace and safety.

How? By knowing the One in whom true safety is found. 

The Source of True Safety

The safety that David is referring to is a sense of security and freedom from fear and anxiety. It is a true peace that leads to the ability to lie down (or stop our restlessness) and sleep. This peace comes from one place and one place only: the God who supplies it generously. This God never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:4). He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1), and He is near to all who call on Him (Psalm 145:18).

As I ponder these things, I think of Jesus, who shows us just how much God loves us and is committed to giving us peace. His love is deeper, stronger, and more steady than we can know, and we see it demonstrated most fully at the cross where Jesus secured the ultimate peace for us: peace with God. 

With this truth firmly nestled in our hearts, rest comes more easily knowing that He is not a distant God who only glances in our direction from time-to-time, but He is a faithful Father, loving Savior, and constant Companion every moment of the day and night.

Sweet, Satisfying Peace

When I find sleep far from me, I take comfort knowing that the Lord is near, and He invites me to tell Him all my troubles. I pour out my thoughts to the Father, trusting that He can and will take care of all my needs. As I do, my mind and body relax, and eventually, I drift off to sleep. It might still take some time, but I have come to treasure the moments I have in the quiet of the night, communing with my God in prayer. What a sweet, sweet thing to fall asleep knowing the comfort, peace, and safety found in the security of the Living God as I cast my anxieties on Him, because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7).

He cares for you, too, friend. So the next time you can’t sleep, your mind racing with everything under the sun, remember that your life is in the very capable hands of our great God and faithful Father. Trust Him for the peace He promises, and then let your mind fully rest as you both lie down and sleep. 

“By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me…” Psalm 42:8a (ESV).

What keeps you awake at night? What verses have comforted your own soul in the sometimes long, dark nights? Tell me in the comments! 

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