When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24
We just returned from seeing our baby girl get married and while we were there we got to visit with our son and his beautiful wife and new baby. As our precious new granddaughter slumbered, my husband and I took turns holding her and her sleep was so sweet, deep and sound that as we snuggled her in our arms we could feel our own level of peace and comfort increase.
What a joy it was to snuggle that little one. Neither of us wanted to give her back.
In this crazy, chaotic world we can become quite frazzled. It seems that we are torn in so many different directions and so stressed that we are not only anxious but we cannot even sleep.
According to a number of studies that I read, it appears (I say appears because studies are not always tremendously accurate) that there is an anxiety epidemic in America.
I know that I personally know a number of people (6+) who suffer from anxiety and over half of those are Christians.
When we look to the scriptures for answers to our anxiety and to get back to a place of a deep, sweet, sleep, we need only look to King David.
If anyone had reasons to be anxious and to have sleepless nights, it was King David.
When King David’s son Absalom saught to kill his father and take the throne for himself, King David certainly had every reason to have sleepless nights, but we see in Psalm 3:5-6 King David says, I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. TENS of THOUSANDS assail him on every side, yet because the LORD sustains him, he lies down and sleeps! Boy is that a lesson for the rest of us. In the same context, still being pursued by Absalom, in Psalm 4:8 King David says in peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone LORD, make me dwell in safety. He trusts God with his very life and his trust is so great that he sleeps soundly.
He was pursued by King Saul, prior to becoming king himself, and Saul wanted him dead. King David panicked and was anxious and worried, however in Psalm 55:22 he finds comfort and says “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken .
Then, having been rescued from his own son Absalom and King Saul, who both wanted him dead and also being forgiven by God for adultery and murder, King David says, Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7.
We, like King David, all have issues that cause us to feel anxious and have some sleepless nights.
But we need to ask…where is our comfort? Where is our tranquility? Where is our provision? Where is our safety? Psalm 91:14 – The LORD says “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.”; Psalm 34:19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble; Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.; 2 Timothy 1:7 – for God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self discipline.
Either we believe that God is who He says that He is and He is faithful to His promises or we don’t. If He is and we can trust and rest in Him, our sleepless, anxious, nights should be over and we should have a deep, sweet, sleep.
If we do not believe that God is who he says that He is and we do not believe or trust God to be faithful to His promises, then we have an even greater concern and reason to be anxious. Because our salvation is not then secure either. Our eternal lives then at risk and the penalty of our sin has not been paid. THIS IS a reason to be anxious and have sleepless nights.
I pray that today, we would measure the concerns of this life, not by how big they are in our life, but how big our God is compared to those things. Lets compare them to the glory that awaits us (For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18) and keep our eyes on the things above and not on the things that the enemy uses to distract us from God’s call on our lives (Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2). Let’s remember that God did not give us a spirit of fear and get back to no anxiety and deep, sweet sleeps.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God desires that you would have deep, sweet, sleep and that you would be anxious for nothing. Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me at admin@Foriven-n-loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and can hopefully help you grow in your knowledge of and relationship with our Precious Savior, Jesus Christ.
Luv Ya!
