Five Scriptures to Help You Sleep
As I shared in a recent blog, I often have difficulty sleeping at night due to illness. I have learned lots of things that help and many that don’t – at least for me. I realize that insomnia is as individual as each person’s reason for being awake, so I don’t claim to have all the answers – not by a long shot. This articles isn’t aiming to give you any kind of medical advice or deal at all with the physical side of sleeplessness. But I want to share with you these verses that have helped me in the wee hours to, as I detailed in my blog, place things in God’s hands and let go. Even though my sleeplessness is not usually initiated by worry or anxiety, it does seem to me that in the darkness, when there’s no one to process out loud with, worries can try to hijack sleeplessness and perpetuate it. I hope these verses help you as they have helped me.
1. “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise” (Psalm 119:148). I love this one. It is the cornerstone for all the others, since meditating on any of these verses is the objective. Even though I don’t necessarily advocate prayer while you’re trying to sleep (again, see the blog for the full explanation), I wholeheartedly advocate meditation on the Word and the Person of God. I will often fall asleep as I mentally repeat, “You are good… Your promises are true… You have good plans for me… You have promised me peace…” etc. I will even repeat just one of those phrases as I unwrap it in my mind like a gift. I will say, “You are good, Father…” while pondering His goodness in the world, His goodness in His Word, His goodness in my life. Peace sweeps over me and I let all tension leave my body effortlessly.
2. “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). These words are, interestingly, repeated several times to Joshua as he is in the process of taking over the leadership of the Israelites from Moses (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5). And isn’t it so comforting to know that when faced with our biggest challenges, when transition is afoot, when we have the biggest potential to succeed or completely blow it, God’s not going anywhere. These words are also repeated in the book of Hebrews (13:5), when we are being encouraged to not allow the concern over finances to drive away contentment with what God has blessed us.
When the worries of failure come knocking in the middle of the night, when concern over your finances threatens to overwhelm, let this verse remind you that He is with you. He’s not going to abandon you… ever.
3. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). I used to battle with fear and nighttime seemed to be when the battle lines were drawn and warfare would commence. This verse got me through. I remember waking up one morning to find that someone had left the front door unlocked. I stepped outside to find things moved around to the point that I knew that someone had moved them. And yet, they had not entered the open front door. My systems for protection had failed (fastidiousness for locked doors) and yet, the Lord had not left me unprotected. I’m not against due diligence for protecting oneself, but only the Lord can cover you against some things. He alone makes us safe.
4. “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep” (Psalm 127:2). Often when I’m not sleeping, it’s because I have so many wonderful ideas racing around in my head: blogs to write, vlogs to record, books, phrases, posts to pen. I wonder if I’ll remember it all in the morning (which is why it’s helpful to keep a pad and pen by the bed). I am tempted to just get up and write. This calls for discernment. If I sense that the Lord is calling me to get up and write, I will, but if I’m feeling compelled by timelines, worries or my own driven-ness, I have learned that that effort, as this verse says, is in vain. Sleep is a gift from God! I need sleep! And I am His Beloved Child, so He gives it to me.
5. “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you” (Isaiah 26:9). I will admit it: I’m greedy for the Lord. I know He’s given so much of Himself to me; and yet, I want more. And even when I feel that desire begin to fade, I want to want more. Even in the night hours, I want my soul to be reaching out to Him as I know He is perpetually reaching to me, wooing me to Himself. The meditation of, “I yearn for You, Lord” focuses my heart heavenward and stirs my soul to deeper longing.
We all have times of sleeplessness in our lives, whether it’s something troubling us, an illness or simply too much caffeine! Meditating on the Lord and what He speaks over us is a beautiful way to rest, and hopefully fall asleep. Sweet dreams, my Friend!
“My mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.” Psalm 63:5-6