We need sleep. I know that seems like a simple statement, but hear me out. The Lord designed our bodies to rest, recharge and refuel. The Lord Jesus, 100% God and Man, while he physically walked the earth, slept. No, not in some spiritual way, but with eyes closed and body recharging from the day’s labor. Jesus even slept through a storm; talk about good sleep.
Yet, some nights anxiety and lack of discipline keep me wide awake. Often, where I should be asleep, I find myself working, lounging, or simply scrolling. Last year the lack of sleep caught up with me, causing severe health issues. However, not only was my physical health affected but my mental health as well. The US Department of Health recommends that most adults need seven or more hours of good-quality sleep on a regular schedule each night. Kids, on the other hand, need even more sleep than adults depending on their age and development. Studies show getting enough sleep can help you.
- Get sick less often
- Stay at a healthy weight
- Lower your risk for serious health problems, like diabetes and heart disease
- Reduce stress and improve your mood
- Think more clearly and do better in school and at work
- Get along better with people
If you are fighting for sleep and rest, here are three reasons to choose sleep.
When We Sleep, It Shows We Trust in the Lord
We see through the Scripture the Lord instituting rest times for his people. One of those was the Sabbath. This was a time not only for physical rest but spiritual worship as well. To rest from our work says to the Lord we trust you to care of us. Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food — yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.” How often do we go to sleep with the day’s worries and not cast them on the Lord? One of the leading causes of insomnia is anxiety. Yet, if the Lord says he loves us, whether awake or asleep, we must trust him even when we close our eyes. You could stay awake 24 hours, and it wouldnt change much but only add to your problems.
Sleeping and Rest Reflect a Humble Heart
We are finite beings, and the need for sleep reflects this reality. Even the energizer bunny needs his battery replaced. Finite beings do not have limitless strength or endurance. I have met people who boast of sleeping only four or five hours a night as they burn the midnight oil. However, in many ways, they operate as if they were above humanity. The Lord is the only being who neither sleeps nor slumbers. Our need for sleep reflects both humility and humanity. It shows that we are beings in need of the Lord, unable to operate in our strength. As the Psalmist declared, “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety” Psalms 4:8 CSB.
Sleep is Good for Your Overall Health
It wasn’t until I started having health problems that I discovered the importance of the discipline of sleep. This year my goal was to improve my overall sleep health by having a nightly bedtime and rest routine, including an organized room and no technology or TV before bed. We often think of bedtimes and routines for children and the elderly, but these disciplines can benefit all of us. First, your body has a natural biological clock, where our bodies sleep at night and are awake during the day. Ignoring this for too long can lead to mental and physical health issues, such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and even depression. Have you asked yourself why you continually scroll on social media or watch TV instead of sleeping? What is the need to constantly work past working hours instead of a routine of family, rest, and recharging? Proverbs 19:23 says, “The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.”
Looking back to when I didn’t struggle with sleep, it was also a time I didn’t work as much with anxiety and fear. While I read verses like 1 Peter 5:7, “casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you,” I don’t always apply this truth to my life. If you are like me, you can take care of today and tomorrow down to the pillow. Maybe I am the only fellow on this ship, but if you have boarded the boat, lack of sleep due to worry, the Lord has made way for us to deboard and walk in peace. Let the words of Psalm 121 bring peace to your soul and allow you to sleep in peace.
“I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.” Psalms 121:1-8 CSB
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