Do you ever thank God for the gift of sleep? I am not referring to the generic colloquialism "Praise the Lord" uttered by someone, as they crash after a long day, or period of sleep deprivation. . . I mean genuine gratitude for the blessing of sleep. I never have. In fact, I have never really thought much about sleep. When I talk about sleep, it is usually in the form of complaining. . . that I need more, or that I didn't sleep well, etc. Only recently, have I been convicted about the way I view sleep. For years, I have determined to start my mornings glorifying and depending on God. I try to think of Him when I wake, meditate on His promises, and spend my early morning moments studying His Word. Yet, it had never dawned on me to glorify and depend on God, as my head hit the pillow each night. Most often, the events of the day are replaying through my mind, or I am busy making a mental "to do" list as I drift off to sleep. Occasionally, I will remember to say a hurried prayer, but never have I purposed to glorify God in preparation for sleep.
As I was reading Humility, by CJ Mahaney, the other day, I was thoroughly convicted about my attitude toward sleep. He says, "A Christian, informed and inspired by Scripture, views the cessation of work each day, the limitation God places upon work each day, and the laying down to sleep each night, as altogether a gift from God" (Humility, 83). When I read these words, this idea of sleep as a "gift" was real to me for the first time ; and, as I continued to read Humility, and later consulted Scripture, it became apparent on many levels.
Consider these truths:
- God created us, and designed us with the aptitude and need for sleep. He determined that our bodies and minds would require a respite from physical labor. . . He didn't have to, but He did. Therefore sleep is good and perfect. So, don't feel guilty when you sleep. Instead, enjoy the renewing, strength giving, benefits of sleep.
- Psalm 121:4 say, "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." While God is at rest from creating, He is a living God who doesn't sleep. So, we can close our eyes at night, knowing that God is still in control and working "all things together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
- Sleep causes us to rely on and trust God fully. In the midst of a life-threatening, fiery trial, David wrote in Psalm 3:5, "I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me." While our lives may not be in danger as we rest our weary heads, the Bible tells us that God knew "the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them" (Psalm 139:16). Only God knows the number of our days. Furthermore, Romans 14:23 says that "whatever is not from faith is sin." Therefore, we must sleep in faith. How beautifully humbling it is, that we can't even sleep without God's sustaining power.
- Each morning brings new mercies. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Sleep brings a fresh start each morning. Through God's daily sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9), we are given another day in which to glorify Him, as well as everything we need to get through the day (strength, peace of mind, stamina, etc.) This is especially encouraging for weary and sometimes sleep deprived young parents.
It is God's grace that offers sleep to a tired body and weary soul at the end of a long day. It is God's grace that sustains us while we sleep. It is God's grace that offers a fresh start each morning. Praise God for sleep!!!