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It wasn’t long ago that I lay awake in bed, entirely unable to fall asleep. My alarm was set for my normal 7 a.m. wake-up call and as I watched the minutes tick by, all I could think about was how few hours of potential sleep remained.
Maybe you’ve been there too. You look at the clock and silently calculate how many hours of sleep you would get if you fell asleep right now. And when you find yourself still awake twenty minutes later, the cycle of anxiety begins, your potential total of sleep diminishes, and the sleeplessness continues.
What if, instead of allowing the spiral of anxiety to consume you, you were able to trust God on sleepless nights? It’s in these unwanted, quiet moments that your restlessness could become a chance to recenter your heart and mind on the Lord.
He will not let your foot slip—He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:3-4 (NIV)
Trust God when Sleep Is Elusive
It’s easy to think your success and security depend on what you are able to produce. But as you lie awake longing for sleep, the Lord keeps the world turning, and He keeps your life secure. Take comfort in the promise that the God of the universe doesn’t need sleep at all. It is because of this glorious truth that your anxiety-ridden night of sleeplessness could be turned into an unexpected opportunity to worship and connect with God.
Here are a few ideas on how:
Sit in the Silence
There likely are not many moments in your waking hours where you are as entirely undistracted as you are on a sleepless night. Instead of dwelling on the frustration, consider embracing solitude by taking a few deep breaths and treasuring the silence.
Recite a Psalm
Make a plan to memorize different verses from the Psalms. When you can’t sleep, recite these verses in your mind and meditate on God’s goodness. Here are a few to get you started…
- The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.—Psalm 23:1 (ESV)
- He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.—Psalm 91:4 (NIV)
- The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?—Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
Talk to God as You Would a Friend
When I’m anxious, talking to a close friend helps ease my nerves. Sometimes I forget that the Lord is the dearest friend I could ever have! On a sleepless night, try talking to the Lord just as you would talk to a close friend. Tell Him your fears, ask Him for wisdom, and give thanks for the ways He has provided for you. Here are a few simple prayers to use for a sleepless night:
- Lord, thanks for this unexpected moment of solitude to connect with You. I know You’re present and near to me right now.
- Lord, I’m anxious about ___________, but I know that You are not. I’m so grateful that I can trust You with this situation.
- Lord, I want to be asleep right now, but I don’t want to miss what You might have for me. Help me be attentive to Your voice until I fall asleep.
Maybe our sleepless nights are not just a nuisance. Perhaps they are, instead, a gracious gift from God to capture our attention and tune our affection to Him. May you have the mindfulness to see your next sleepless night as an opportunity to trust in God.
Now listen to a segment of this lovely sleep story from Abide based on Jeremiah 29:13 about finding God wherever you are.
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.
Gwen lives in Atlanta with her husband, Paul. She loves black coffee, a good novel, and is always looking for a new skill to try or adventure to take.
