Embracing the Gift of Sleep

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat — for
He grants sleep to those He loves. — Psalm 127:2

Perhaps you’ve never thought of sleep as a gift from God. But it is. Sleep is a beautiful gift of peace and rest that comes from the Father’s hand. Let’s unwrap the gift of sleep today.

Imagine your loving creator handing you a beautifully wrapped package. He encourages you to untie the ribbon and let it fall away. He guides you to remove the wrapping and set it aside. He waits patiently as you open the box to discover a beautiful gift — the gift of sleep.

Sleep is a gift, for it allows us to process, restore, and strengthen our bodies and minds. As we drift through the sleep cycles, our mind is able to sort out the day’s events. We are able to organize information, file it away, and remember what is most important. Each cell in our bodies benefits from sleep. Sleep rejuvenates us, repairs our tissues, and restores us after a long day of hard work.

Oh, what a beautiful gift from our heavenly Father! Since He created us, He knows just what our bodies need, so He created sleep. And not only do our physical bodies need sleep, but our spirits need God’s true rest.

Now, be assured that rising early, at the start of a new day, ready to work with willing hands, is a good thing. Starting the day with an anxious heart, however, isn’t beneficial at all.

Instead of rising early with burdens on your heart, consider starting your morning with a quiet meditation. Let God’s Word be the first words you hear each day. For His mercies are new every morning.

Then, as you move through your day, no matter what comes, you can recall the sweet words of wisdom you heard that morning. You can carry His Word with you as a guide, a comfort, and a peaceful meditation.

At the end of the day, resist the temptation to keep working and toiling into the night. Read the wise words of Solomon who, in Psalm 127:2 said,

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat — for He grants sleep to those He loves.

Often, when sleep eludes us, it’s because we are holding on to the cares of this life. We struggle to let go of them because we struggle to trust God. We forget that God is sovereign over us, and He has given us sleep as a gift.

Dear one, the Lord watches over you when you wake and when you lie down. Imagine Him keeping watch over you.

Thank You, good Father, for the gift of sleep. Thank You for knowing just what I need at the end of a long day. Help me to release every worry and concern to You. Please cover me with Your peace and protection so that I can fully relax and find true rest in Your presence. Help me to surrender my life to You and receive the gift of true rest. I pray I find comfort and peace in Your presence. Please help me to let go of anything that is on my mind or in my heart. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for watching over me. Thank You for the gift of sleep. Amen.

Taken from Peace with the Psalms: 40 Readings to Relax Your Mind and Calm Your Heart by Abide Christian Meditation.

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Your Turn

It’s easy with the worries and anxieties of the day and of this world to get caught in sleeplessness, tossing and turning at night instead of resting. God created sleep as a gift for us! Let’s pray that as we close the day, we can give our stress to Him and enter into His peace. Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you. ~ Devotionals Daily