Lost Sleep

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him."

Esther 6:1

SOMETIMES LIFE wakes us up in the middle of the night. The worries of the world can be heavy, even painstaking. It is hard to sleep when fear grips our heart, but Christ calms our conscience. A good night’s sleep is God’s gift. He provides firm reassurance during fickle times.

Your heart may be heavy with financial worries, relational stress, and/or health issues. A child may be giving you fits. A teenager can add to your growing gray hair. Or a tragic accident can add fuel to your fears; a lawsuit may be looming. It is hard to sleep when your circumstances seem out of control. What are you to do? A full night’s sleep has become as common as a snowflake in the desert. You lose heart when you lose sleep.

How can night interruptions be wisely interpreted? God speaks in the middle of the night. He may speak through the Bible. He may speak through a quiet prayer and contemplation. Either way, He has my attention, and He wants me to listen to Him. “On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:6).

Take the time to journal during this time of sleep deprivation. If you do not write down your “God thoughts,” there is a good chance you will forget what He may be saying. The record of your engagement with God will become a future hope and encouragement. Your written word will serve as a reminder of God’s personal care and direction.

The fear of the night will give way to the peace of the morning. Convert your late-night pity party to a prayer party. Let God heal your soul and comfort your heart. He works twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, even when we are unaware. “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me” (Psalm 16:7)

Solicit your Savior Jesus to change you. Ask Him to make you more forgiving. Allow the unlimited forgiveness of God to flow through you. Be a channel of God’s grace to those in your life who are undeserving and unloving.

Forgive your heavenly Father for allowing you to go through this hardship. He is here to walk with you through adversity, not to crush you under its weight. Christ’s companionship will add hours to your sleep and maybe years to your life. Use this time of sleeplessness to grow your faith. The Lord’s largeness looms over your opportunities like a fresh coat of morning dew over grass. He has you covered. He can be trusted. This situation did not sneak up on Him. Go back to sleep, and rest securely in His arms.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

Does my rest at night rest in the Lord? What is God trying to teach me in my unrest?