I have a favorite verse for when I can’t sleep, so today I was toying with the idea of writing another devotional, this one based on verses for insomniacs. However, at this point, I only have enough verses to get you through about week of sleepless nights, so I’m just going to make it one blog entry. Because there’s a chance (a small chance if you’re an insomniac) that you’ll fall asleep mid blog, I’m using my favorite insomniac verse first instead of saving it for last.
The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
If you fear the Lord, you will confess your sins and be forgiven, which will eliminate one reason for sleeplessness. Nagging guilt. You know the phrase “How can you sleep at night?” Well, no offense, but if you can’t sleep, you might want to take a moment before reading the rest of this and ask for forgiveness for a few things. I’ll wait.
(whistles Amazing Grace)
Okay. Another reason fearing the Lord might help you sleep is that if you understand how vastly powerful God is compared to men, you won’t be afraid of anything on earth. Fearing anything other than God is definitely NOT good for sleep. Trust me. Every night I pray for protection from fire, earthquakes, intruders, and war. This list was perfected over time by adding everything that’s ever kept me up at night. I add “accidents” to cover any other bases, like planes crashing into the house. If I recognize the fearsome power of God to protect me, I banish all other fear from my mind. Take THAT, bump in the night! Psalm 4:8 says In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety.
I mean, Jesus slept in a boat during a storm that covered the boat with waves. The disciples came and woke Him, all crybaby “We’re gonna die! Save us!” Then Jesus said “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” and, like a boss, He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm. (from Matthew 8:26) Who am I to fear an earthquake that may or may not happen, when these guys weren’t even supposed to fear a storm THAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING?
Anyway, enough about fear.
Proverbs 3:19-26 is about keeping God’s wisdom close to you so that when you lie down, you will not be afraid, and your sleep will be sweet. (I would whistle “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God” while you thought about wisdom, but I don’t know it. I just found it when I Googled “songs about God’s wisdom.” The lyrics look good though. Check it out. It’s by Stuart Townend, a fave, and Keith Getty.)
Maybe you’re awake because you subconsciously think sleep to be a waste of time. After all, Proverbs 6:10 and 20:13 make it sound like we’re lazy if we sleep. But I’m sure these verses only refer to people who sleep when they should be working. Psalm 127:2 says It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. God doesn’t need sleep. Let him work for you while you take a nice little rest. He loves you!
Even Paul, sort of a demanding guy if you ask me, lists sleeplessness among such difficulties as beatings, imprisonments and hunger. (2 Corinthians 6:5) It is okay to need sleep. Let yourself sleep.
Really, almost any Bible verse could be recommended for insomniacs. 1. You might as well be learning about God since you can’t sleep, and 2. Reading the Word of God brings peace, which might bring sleep.
Well, if this unedited blog hastily written at 1 A.M. hasn’t already bored you into sleep (I’ll stop whistling now as not to keep you awake) I have one more passage to recommend. Joshua chapter 12. Good night!
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