Friday, September 20, 2013

Three Reasons Why A Godly Woman Gets Her Sleep


I've been thinking quite a bit lately about sleep. I've had plenty of time, because ever since school began a few weeks ago, I haven't been sleeping so well. So as usual, I'm mostly talking to ... ahem ... myself {embarrassed face}.

How have you been sleeping? I usually sleep quite well, falling fast asleep in five minutes and waking up with the alarm. Lately, I seem to be wide awake and have difficulty falling asleep and then am dragging when the alarm goes off.

I can't complain because I have a friend that is being treated for major sleep difficulties. She has been going through trouble sleeping for month and months, and averages about three hours sleep per night. I have another friend that has a loud ringing in one ear (please lift them up in prayer right now!).

All this has me thinking about sleep. So let's go to the Source!

Since those of us who call ourselves Christians look to God's Word to know the mind of God on whatever troubles us, let's look at what God tells us personally in His love letter to us—about the thing He invented for us to do for one-third of our lives—sleep.

"It is vain for you that ye rise up early and so late take rest, and eat the bread of toil: for so He giveth unto His beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

Wow! That's a lot to unpack. Let's get started on 3 reasons why God gives us sleep:

1. God gives sleep! God is a giving God! Remember, "for God so loved the world He gave..." Sleep is a gift from Him. He created us, and He created our bodies in such a way that we sleep and need sleep daily.

2. Sleep gives us rest! Have you ever gone to bed with what seemed like a huge, insurmountable problem only to find out that after a good night's rest the solution came much easier and quicker than the previous night? A good night's sleep refreshes us! But let's look closer, it appears from God's Word that He intends for more than just physical nourishment during our sleep time.

3. He tells us that He is working on our behalf while we sleep! This is getting to be my absolute favorite reason, although for years I confess I have coveted sleep only for the rest factor. Evidently there are some things that need to be accomplished in our life that God chooses to do while we are doing nothing but sleeping! 

Just think of it! We can tell ourselves, "I need to get in bed now, for God has much He is doing in my life!" Psalm 127:2 tells us we can be certain of that!

Oh, how foolishly I do the very opposite. I run around and when I should be winding down, I'm just getting started. I guess I would say I'm a night person. But as I've been pondering Psalm 127:2, being a "night person" is no excuse. 

How vain it is for me to toil late, thinking I'm accomplishing "so much" on my own. On the contrary, God tells me in His Word basically to stop, and go to bed, because I'm acting like for God's will to be done in my life it's really up to me to be busy as a bee squeezing the most out of everyday. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Responding to one more email.

Getting out just one tweet.

Just one more piece of paper to move about the house.

If God's in it, a reasonable amount of effort on my part is enoughif He is not in itno amount of effort on my part will be enough.

I'm actually looking forward to going to bed tonight! I'm thinking of all that God is going to do that I can't see that is taking place divinely as I'm asleep.

Isn't faith defined as the "assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen?" (Hebrews 11:1)

Tonight, I'm committing my life and my soul to God as I sleep, and may He grant me rest as He does His supernatural spiritual workas only God can do. I hope you'll be joining me wherever your head hits the pillow tonight!

"The deepest concerns of our souls, whether they be good or bad, are furthered during sleep. It is not merely a physical fact that you go to bed perplexed and wake clear-minded: God has been ministering to you during sleep. Sometimes God cannot get at us until we are asleep." -Oswald Chambers

How's your sleep? Do you want to join me in welcoming God's supernatural work in your life in the sleep He grants you instead of scurrying or surfing around when we should be in bed?

I'd love to connect with you wherever you most like on FacebookInstagramPinterest, or Twitter. You may follow my blog here.

Disclaimer: Mothers of young children are in a fleeting season of life. They often have to grab sleep when babies sleep—especially if they are expecting another child! Also, you or your husband may work nights, or have a small window to see one another which would be a great reason to stay up to see him. We don't have young children anymore {sad face}. The season of young children goes so fast. It is a delightful season but it is exhausting! Our family's routine is that of up days, and sleep nights—which is the case for the majority. Your situation may be unique. Please see comments below which help to bring balance to this post. So grateful for you!  
Walk by Faith,

16 comments:

  1. What an eye opener! Confirms what God has been trying to teach me lately. 1) That I need to let God be God. I need to let go and give Him control. 2) I need to learn to receive. I do not realize until recently in a time of deep prayer in which I felt completely bared to God that I am not letting myself receive from God. Maybe this is the best way to start! I needed this. Thank you so much!

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    1. Amen! If God's in it, just a reasonable amount of effort on our part will do, and if He's not in it, no amount of effort on our part will do! He didn't create us to abuse ourselves into workaholics! So glad you wrote, friend! God's blessings as your head hits the pillow tonight:-)

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  2. As a Mom with five children, I love to stay up. I get wayyy more accomplished after they are in bed. I also get time for myself and time with my husband. He often has to bring work home, so sometimes it's midnight by the time we are able to connect. I am definitely sleep-deprived but hey...I just had my fifth child and that's just how it is. I can't sleep unless my baby is asleep and it always seems that when she is finally asleep, I can't fall asleep! On top of being sleep-deprived due to motherhood, I also have insomnia and anxiety. I may not agree with the "just go to bed" idea but when it comes to letting God handle my anxieties so I can sleep....absolutely. There is no need to worry about tomorrow. God is in control. THAT is what I need to work on. Being sleep-deprived is mostly unavoidable for me (for example, it takes me an hour to fall asleep, if I can fall asleep at all...I have trouble staying asleep...and if I do sleep, children wake me in the night). BUT, I can hand my burden over to God and allow him to comfort me. I can humbly ask for help with my insomnia. I can ask him that my children sleep well through the night so they don't wake me up. It doesn't always happen, but I've noticed that even in my exhausted state, He is there with me as I trudge through another day of motherhood. God is in the details...reminding me in each small thing He is in control. I'm not. Wonderful article!!

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    1. I think God has special grace for mothers of infants! Thank you so much for your well written and candid feedback on your lack of sleep and insomnia. I love thinking that God is at work during our sleep, and we all sleep at some point. Thank heavens! Literally! I know he wants us to have thankful hearts for the children he has given us, even when they wake us up. Children are not convenient, but God is not interested in our convenience—He's interested in our character. May God grant you sleep as He performs the divine in your soul that only He can do! Blessings to you for God's wonderful abundant grace in you and in your precious family!

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  3. Such a beautiful explanation of sleep. I have had sleep troubles for years, and now am working on claiming sleep from God.

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    1. So glad it helped you, Tracey! I love my head on the pillow thinking about God about to go to work on my behalf to my deepest soul's needs! Love all the way to you in Equador!!

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  4. Love this! Just the encouragement I need to not feel guilty about those extra few minutes of sleep I allow myself to have.

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    1. Hi Rosann! I am so glad the post on sleep encouraged you! We all need encouragement and we all need SLEEP!!! Thank you for also following me on YouTube and Google Plus. I really appreciate it. I have several marriage videos that are ready to be posted when I can get to them. Thank you again Rosann, I don't take it for granted!

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  5. Great post! I've blogged a lot about sleep too - usually about the lack of sleep I'm getting as a mom! - but I think even that could be entrusted to God... he knows how much sleep I need and can help me learn patience and gentleness even when I don't feel like I've gotten enough. Thanks for the encouragement! (I found you over at the Encourage One Another link-up.)

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    1. Thank you, Bonnie for commenting on how you could relate to the trusting God with sleep part. Sleep is such a vital part of life!! May He bless you tonight in the sleep you receive!

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  6. What a great post! I suffer from insomnia on occasion, and I use those times to pray and remember Scripture verses, or if I can't sleep after awhile, getting up and reading God's Word!

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    1. Thank you Sister, for taking time to comment on my post on sleep. May God continue to bless you as you sleep, and as you read His word and pray when you have insomnia. Love to you! Juana

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  7. Juana, I'm reading this a little late, but it was just what I needed during this very busy season! Thanks for posting it!

    Christmas Blessings,
    Donna

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  8. I have totally had that experience where I was really upset about something and went to sleep, and by morning God just gave me total peace about it and I wasn't discouraged anymore! That has happened in some of the darkest times of my life. I'm so grateful for those blessings He gives to His beloved in sleep! Beautiful post!

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  9. To God be the glory, Jamie! Your beautiful & candid comment is going to bless others. Thank you!

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