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As a teenager, I signed up for a school trip to Italy which took us through beautiful hillsides where shepherds herded their sheep with skill and ease. Even the smallest hand movements and melodic whistles directed the animals through tree-lined paths to the sheepfold. It’s a peaceful memory—one that still brings comfort as I think of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
The book of Psalms offers beautiful illustrations of the Shepherd’s care and leads us to encounter Jesus’ peace for sleep. I can’t think of another book in the Bible that speaks more tenderly of God’s love and guidance.
Here are four ways the Psalms can help you encounter Jesus’ peace:
The Psalms Fill Your Heart with Gratitude
Psalm 79:13 says, “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation” (NLT).
No matter what kind of day you’ve had, gratitude is a sure way to enter into God’s peace. Just as a parent might instruct a child to think of three positives for every negative, giving thanks to God in difficult times brings Jesus’ peace into focus.
There’s a beautiful passage found in Revelation 7:17 which says, “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (NKJV).
Encounter Jesus’ peace for sleep as the Good Shepherd leads you to fountains of living waters and fills your heart with praise.
The Psalms Calm Your Mind with Peace for Sleep
Psalm 100:3 says, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (NIV).
Just knowing the Lord your God is with you is enough to settle your mind and help you fall asleep. When you remember the loving way in which He fashioned you and made you for His glory, you encounter His peace for sleep in a refreshing way.
It was David who said, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways” (Psalm 139:2-3, NIV).
If the Lord knows everything about you, surely He can calm every worry, doubt, and fear. Rest in the provision of the One who is familiar with all your ways. You are a precious lamb in the pasture of His love and grace.
The Psalms Restore Your Soul
The familiar passage in Psalm 23:1-3 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” (NKJV).
Restoration comes as we encounter the Holy Spirit who works in and through us. It was Jesus who said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 NKJV).
Sleep soundly knowing Jesus’ peace for sleep restores your soul. His gentle, kind, and loving Spirit provides the restoration you need.
Listen to a short segment of this Abide sleep story based on Psalm 23:2. Experience the peace for sleep the psalms can bring.
The Psalms Give You Strength
Psalm 28:8-9 says, “The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever” (NIV).
Part of a shepherd’s care is to ensure the sheep have enough strength and endurance to walk from hillside to hillside. When needed, they’ll carry weak lambs across ravines or other challenging obstacles. Our Faithful Shepherd gives us strength to go where we need to go. And if we fall, He carries us to safe pasture.
Turn to the book of Psalms to encounter Jesus’ peace for sleep and know that the Good Shepherd is with you always.
For more help to stress less and sleep better, check out the Abide app, where our 400+ Bible-based sleep stories all exist to help you experience the peace of Christ and get better rest. Use this link for 25% off a premium subscription, giving you access to all our sleep stories plus much more.
Jennifer Waddle is the author of Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and has an online ministry, EncouragementMama.com ,where you can sign up for her weekly Encourage Letter. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on Earth.
