Time in the Word ~ Psalm 3:5

Have you ever been unable to sleep because of pain, insomnia, or emotional distress? I remember about three years ago I experienced a painful and extended period of sciatica, a condition that created great pain in my legs and made me unable to sleep. I can tell you every TV show that’s on at 3 in the morning and every conceivable place, technique, and method to sleep in an effort to steal a few precious moments of rest. I have also been on the receiving end of problems and issues that create struggle, worry, and discouragement in our lives and steal much-needed rest and sleep from us. The point is that sleep is a precious blessing, and one that all too often we don’t think about as a blessing from our Lord.

In our devotional text, David writes that God watches over us in our sleep and sustains us in a way that allows us to rise to the next day. How many of us thank God first thing in the morning for sustaining us through the night? Jesus says he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and that includes through our unconscious hours of sleep. What does it mean for God to sustain us in our sleep? One thing I believe is that God communicates with our unconscious mind even at night to allow his insight and instruction to reach us in extraordinary ways (Psalm 16:7).

Are we always open to the voice of God in our lives? Are we always seeking his counsel for our lives? I hope that for each of one of us our heart’s desire is that we might serve him and live examples of the holy life in this dark world.  God protects us in Jesus Christ and he won’t let us go. Always remember as our head hits the pillow in precious sleep that God gives sleep to those he loves (Psalm 127:2), and thank God for this blessing too. No matter what storms are blowing or winds howling, remember that we can rest in the Lord, just as he did in the tempest surrounding the boat safe in the arms of God (Matthew 8:23-27).

FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFT OF PRECIOUS SLEEP AND THE CONFIDENCE YOU GIVE US TO SURRENDER OURSELVES TO OUR PILLOWS, KNOWING THAT YOU WILL SUSTAIN US THROUGH THE NIGHT AND WAKE US TO TOMORROW’S OPPORTUNITIES. AMEN!

Article source: Mike White @ Summitchurchofchrist.org