Sunday Naps and Sleepless Nights

There is nothing finer than a Sunday nap.  Since God directed us to have a day of rest, He understands our need for a break from physical and mental fatigue.  I have often told my hubby, "I'm not physically tired, just mentally and emotionally", sometimes to the point I just can't function.  The problem is, many times my Sunday naps become Sunday "sleep all afternoons". 

When bedtime comes, then I'm not one bit sleepy, although I know the Monday morning alarm clock awaits.  Do you ever have nights like that; maybe not Sunday, but any night of the week when you attempt to pray yourself to sleep?  Maybe when that fails, you try reading, or talking yourself to sleep.  But....your brain just won't shut off?  You go over what you have accomplished during the day, or what you didn't accomplish.  Then you move on to those things on your "to do" list for the next day, or the next week, or the next year, or you worry about something that "may" happen, or "might not happen", some misunderstanding between you and a family member or friend that needs to be resolved.  The list could go on and on. 

The more you tell yourself, "you have to get up and go to work" in "x" number of hours, the more wide awake you become.  I've glanced frantically at the alarm clock and told myself..."you absolutely must go to sleep, you have to get up in three hours!"  I've counted backwards from a hundred, envisioned the infamous sheep jumping over fences, all to no avail.  I've also wandered around in a completely dark house, and jammed my foot on a bedpost I feel sure had moved itself from it's previous location.

I've thought back on why I sometimes have those nights when I just cannot fall asleep. Is it because of a late night snack I should have skipped, or a suspenseful TV show or movie just before bed?  No, usually it's because of fretting and worrying over something instead of trusting God for the outcome.   

The next time I have one of those sleepless nights, I plan to open my Bible and read the following verses, reminding myself of how much my Heavenly Father loves and cares for me, and that my life and future are completely in the safety of His most capable hands.  

Matthew 6:26-34 (NASB)
²⁶ "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? ²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Copyright 2011 Charlotte Laney