Sleep

So many people have sleep issues. Psalm 127: 2, "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep." I believe God wants us to get sleep. A body needs sleep. Consistent lack of sleep can lead to a weaker immune system. I heard recently that those who sleep fewer than six hours a night don't live as long as those who sleep seven or more hours a night. A CNN report said, "Fatigue is dangerous. A growing collection of research indicates that America's sleep problems have reached epidemic proportions and may be the country's number one health problem." We need sleep.

Most of the time our sleep issues come from stress, overwork and anxiety. Some people worry about sleep until it prevents them from sleeping. I go to sleep easy but if I wake up at night, I used to get something on my mind and I would snowball it for hours, making it bigger and bigger. I would be so filled with anxiety I could not sleep. I have learned that as soon as the negative thoughts come in I try to hand it over to God. He is going to be up anyway and He can handle it - much better than I can. If the thought tries to sneak back in I say, "I know these thoughts are not of You, God. I am trusting You to take them away." The next time the thoughts try to sneak in, I say, "I trust You, God." It changes my focus and I go back to sleep. Psalm 4: 8, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

I have heard someone say that the world gets along just fine without us when we surrender control and sleep. We can trust that the God Who made the world and Who made us does not sleep. By the next morning everything is better. It is amazing how that sunrise casts a whole new light on things!

Counting sheep is no substitute for trusting in the Good Shepherd.