Having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Download Abide for Christian sleep meditations that use calming techniques and Scripture verses framed in soothing stories to lull you into a peaceful slumber.
Have you heard the term “ear worm“? Sounds gross, right? But an ear worm is simply some lyric or phrase that gets stuck in your head and you just can’t seem to get it out. Like when someone starts humming “It’s a Small World.” Oops, sorry. While it’s true that the world is small, God is big and He can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better with the comfort of His Word. Let’s explore 5 out-of-the-box Bible verses to help you experience better sleep tonight. With repetition, they can become magnificent ear worms you’ll welcome to stay in your head.
There’s Peace Knowing God’s Got You
While not a passage you might traditionally consider meditating on before you sleep, 1 Peter 5:10-11 can bring so much comfort to you when your mind spirals into worry.
The verse most commonly quoted from this passage is verse 7, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” Peter, one who walked with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, knew suffering well. As he was given so much authority over the church in its infancy, Peter understood the need to let God restore, support, strengthen, and establish him. Repeat this verse as you lie in your bed, and let it soothe you to better sleep than you’ve experienced before.
Believing in God Can Bring Better Sleep
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
John 14:1
Research suggests that being secure in your relationship with God can actually help you experience better sleep. When you know that nothing can separate you from God’s love, your soul can be at peace, allowing you to let go of all the things that might weigh you down as you settle into your bed. When your mind focuses on God and His Word, your stress and worry can melt away, allowing you to drift off to sleep content and secure.
Abide has a sleep story based on John 14:1. Here’s a snippet of that meditation to help you get an idea of how believing in God and meditating on His Word can help you get better sleep.
The God of All Comfort Stays With You
Have you ever soothed a crying baby? When my second son was a baby, I would sing to him to get him to sleep. It worked every time. He’d be crying when I put him down for a nap and I would stay by his side and sing songs based on Scripture to him. Soon, he was fast asleep. How sweet it is to know that God sings over us and that He never leaves our side. He’s always there to comfort.
Second Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” As you lie safely in your bed, you can let these words soothe you and calm your fears, be a balm to your hurts, and gently take away your worries.
Listen to this short devotional from Abide based on 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
Finding Good Rest in God’s Love
When I thought, “My foot slips,”
Psalm 94:18-19
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
When you let the truth of Psalm 94:18-19 flow over you, you can go to bed with a smile on your face and peace in your heart. God’s love surrounds you. No matter what you’ve done, no matter what you’re facing, God loves you. And when you feel securely, intentionally, unconditionally loved, you can sleep better. Your heart feels that love, and that brings you peace.
Abiding in God Helps Bring Better Sleep
My grand-niece sleeps so well. Her parents are very thankful. The trick is they have snuggled her in a sleep sack since she was a newborn. She’s too big for it now, but when she was less than a year old, every time they slipped her into that sleep sack, she knew it was time to sleep. She never fussed about it. You might say that being secure in that sleep sack helped bring her better sleep.
Abiding in Christ can be like that. When we’re fully secure in His presence, we know we can sleep without fear or fuss. He carries our problems, He restores our strength, He comforts us when we’re hurting. When we feel safe, we can get better sleep.
Psalm 91:1-3 says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Even when the strongest storms rage in our lives, we can rest secure.
Listen to a short segment of this Abide sleep story based on Psalm 91. Let it help you feel the peace that abiding in God can bring.
Getting better sleep helps you have better mental clarity, more energy, and a brighter outlook on life. Meditating on God’s Word as you fall asleep can help you achieve that goal. Abide sleep stories have brought better sleep to thousands of people around the world. Download the app now and save 25% off a premium subscription. Start experiencing better sleep with God’s Word.
Stephanie Reeves is the senior editor for Abide. She lives in Orlando, Fla., along with her husband, 3 adult kids, and 1 adorable grandson.
