Sleepless Nights

Read Psalm 3 here.

A recent survey commissioned by Saatva, a bedding company, pinpointed what keeps people up at night. In 2020, 41% of 2000 participants responded that ‘next day anxiety’ kept them awake. Worry, worry, worry. It’s a national problem.

If there ever were a situation when worry and fear consumes to the point of no sleep, David experiences it. As he writes Psalm 3, he is running for his life. He has the biggest and strongest of Israel after him, including men who up to that point served him faithfully. To make matters worse, his own son leads the charge. Double-crossed by his own son. Simply devastating.

How could he possibly sleep? How could he have any peace?

He remembers the God he serves. He pours his heart out to Him and reminds himself that God is his shield. God is aware of and protecting every angle of David’s existence. Every side of his life is guarded. David gives God honor and sets himself under God’s protection.

Peace covers David. So much so that he can say, “I lie down and sleep, I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” It’s simply amazing that he, surrounded by thousands out to get him and faced with the greatest humiliation and betrayal of his life, could have peace to sleep. He knows he is safe when God is with him.

I’ve experienced sleepless nights from worry and fear as David did. When I can’t sleep, I remind myself that Jesus is with me and focus on Bible verses that assure me of God’s peace. One of my favorites is, ‘You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Is. 26:3 ESV. I’ve repeated that verse to keep my mind on God and sleep comes.

Act and Ask

Have you experienced God’s peace in midst of trouble and worry write about it in the comments below.

Tonight, as you lie down to sleep, remember God’s God’s protective care and call to him for peace and rest.

Oh, God, even though there are troubles in my life, I know that you are the shield around me. You get me through the hard, hard times. Take away my worry. Give me peace to sleep.