I’m one of those people who becomes so not pretty when I am lacking sleep. Seriously not pretty. My sweet husband will do just about anything to make sure I get my beauty rest so I don’t dissolve into a mushy pile of irreconcilable tears. Ear plugs, noise machines, telephone ringers off, sitting by the bed of sick children -you name it, my husband has done it. Have I mentioned, he is a saint.
And, thankfully, most of the time I sleep well. Most of the time. Unless I’m stressed.
When I’m stressed it seems like my brain wakes up when the house quiets down. Any reasonable thoughts scatter and I’m left with irrational emotional ones. Ones that make sleep unrealistic. Fears – either real or imagined loom large in my head as my mind tries to sort out the details and come up with a reasonable solution. Problem is – rarely do I come up with one. Not in the wee hours of the morning.
God has showed me these verses over the last couple of days.
Psalms 3:5-6a “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid…”
Psalms 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
The last time I couldn’t sleep, I kept saying Psalm 3:5-6 over and over until I fell asleep. I didn’t let my mind wander. When I woke up about a zillion times, I again repeated the verses until I slept again. I woke feeling semi-rested and joyful knowing God’s got it.
What a blessing to know God gives sleep. He sustains. There is nothing to fear. I can sleep in peace. God is my rock, my fortress and safety comes from Him.
God knows my problems. And He has a much better plan at solving them than I do. I just need to stop trying to do His job. When I feel crushed by the weight of my problems, I can know I’m trying to carry them on my own. God never intended me to carry them. They are too heavy for me. My load becomes light not when my problems go away, but when I trust Jesus with them.
You too? Do you remember the Berea Baptist women’s retreat when I dissolved into tears because the ladies in my room kept me up until crazy late hours? Love the sleepytime verses. I read the Bible– anywhere– when I can’t sleep.
I do remember the retreat – fun days. Now that I’m older and wiser, I refrain from Ladies’ retreats in the interest of my much needed beauty sleep! 🙂
“When I feel crushed by the weight of my problems, I can know I’m trying to carry them on my own. God never intended me to carry them” Wow did those words ever speak to my heart. I really needed to hear them. I think I’m going to come back to this blog many many times and re read it – until I finally “get” it. Thank you!
Praying for you. Your life is a constant example of what it looks like to grow closer to Jesus. Love you!