I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4: 8, NKJV
Dear Lord, in a world that is anything but safe, You make us dwell in safety. Thank You, in the name of Jesus. Amen
Insomnia seems to be a problem all around the world. As life becomes more and more uncertain, people find it harder and harder to sleep at night. A simple definition of insomnia is: The “inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially as a problem continuing over time.” These statistics on sleep-related problems caught my attention:
“The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) estimates that more than 40 million Americans suffer chronic, long-term sleep disorders….While 60 million Americans frequently suffer from bouts of insomnia for extended periods, another 20 million Americans experience occasional sleeping problems. These disorders and sleeping problems, coupled with the resulting sleep deprivation, interfere with family, work, driving, and social activities.”*
Many, and varied, are the reasons for sleeplessness, and no social group seem to escape its grasp. The very rich and the very poor, the young and the old, the Christian as well as the non-Christian, are all affected by it. The reason it is so inclusive is because the entire human family will, at one time or another, experience some, or all, of the causes of sleeplessness. Fear, anxiety, stress, distress, guilt, hopelessness, loneliness, comprise only a small fraction of the causes. The list is much longer. Perhaps you are shocked by the fact that even Christians suffer from some of these negative emotions, but the truth is, sometimes we do.
For this reason, the Word of God is full to overflowing with promises of God’s guidance, His watchcare, His never-ending love, His willingness to forgive, His abiding presence, His ability to provide all that we will ever need, His power to save to the utmost! Somewhere among these promises is the antidote for your sleeplessness!
It is no small wonder, that the psalmist, with a childlike faith, could say with full confidence that he would both “lay down in peace, and sleep.” He knew the Source of his peace. He knew that He was all powerful! He had the assurance that He was in constant, and perfect control over everything that touched his life. Everything necessary for his salvation was in the hand of his God. Therefore, he need not toss all night, only to fall into a fitfull sleep just before dawn. There was only One who could allow him to have a peaceful night of sleep, and he was acquainted with Him.
Do you know the only Source of peace and rest? Do you go to bed with the assurance that your God will make you dwell safely? I guarantee you that if you get to know Him your life will never be the same, neither will your sleeping! Blessings!
*The source of this quote, and of all the Bible texts used in the devotionals will be provided at the end of the month.