Read Time 5 Minutes
There is a perplexing struggle that I have and can’t seem to solve. I join about 10% of adults who struggle with chronic insomnia disorder. As we know, a lack of sleep on a repetitive basis can lead to other health problems as well. For me, there seems no rhyme or reason as to why I can’t fall asleep, and often hour after hour, I still lie there wondering why. I don’t get up to do tasks or scroll through my phone because I know that just lying down is some form of rest. No matter how little sleep I get, I always make sure I never sleep past 8am or take naps to give myself the best chance of sleeping the next night. I have read information on insomnia and talked with doctors to find solutions, but still I wrestle with the issue. There are better nights than others, but much of the time, the ability to fall asleep teases me much like an aloof cat taunts their owner who just wants to snuggle their precious pet.
Therefore I made a decision some time ago to use this time of lying awake to practice 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as well as Proverbs 3: 5-6. I choose this to combat the creeping in anxiety that wants to rob my peace as frustration begins to set in during the wee hours.
For this blog post, I want to highlight the depth of Proverbs 3:5-6 which is a command with a promise. This is a Bible verse that many cling to time and time again during difficulties…during perplexities. The difficulty could be a constant physical struggle, or a heartache, possibly a tragedy, or financial hardship. When we fear we are losing our grip and need a hope to cling to, we remember and recite this verse that transcends anything we may be experiencing…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
But at what level do we really practice Proverbs 3: 5-6, and how much of our heart to we really give to trusting in the Lord? During the night when I start to realize that the refreshment of sleep is evading me once again, I begin to pray, and I recite Bible verses that are written on my heart. As I recite Bible verses such as Proverbs 3:5-6, I try to pause and meditate on the deep meaning of the lines…not just use the reciting as a technique like counting sheep. Recently, I have been pondering this famous verse of comfort to really savor it’s truths. So, below are the reflections of my meditation…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” – Just think…we try and put our trust in many things in this world. However, we quickly learn that everything around us can let us down in small ways or big ways. Our loved ones are not perfect, finances do not really provide security, and our health can be a constant battle to feel our best. The list can go on and on! This makes us skeptical people, and sometimes we let this feeling rob us of truly trusting God. However, when we trust in the Lord, this is an everlasting trust that absolutely will not fail. Do not let your mind fear that His trust will fail…it will NOT! Let your heart be glad in this and use ALL of your heart to feel the immense peace of trusting in the only ONE who will not let us down! How can we be sure? We can be sure because He loves us as intimately as a marriage that will NEVER fail. He longed to love us and be faithful to us even before He formed us. GOD IS FAITHFUL FOREVER!
“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.” Hosea 2:19-20
”And do not lean on your own understanding”– Why do we so foolishly and desperately stress ourselves by trying to comprehend all the circumstances around us that alarmingly impact our lives when we are clearly finite beings? Not even those with genius IQs know it all. Instead, we should joyfully tap into the resources of peace from our all-knowing all-powerful Heavenly Father. He delights to give us a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7) through simply trusting and relying on Him! He has ALL the understanding that will take care of ALL our needs!
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.” Psalm 139: 5-6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him”– Instead of counting on our own abilities and giving way to anxieties, acknowledge the ALL-SUFFICIANCY of our loving Father in ALL our ways! This means let go of worries and honor Him with your trust, pray to Him without ceasing, praise Him for who He is, worship Him with all your heart, and tell others about how He never lets you down. This is following His perfect commands and is the way our time is meant to be spent!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
And finally, the promise…”And He will make your paths straight.” – This means that you won’t be tossed every which way by the storms of life! You won’t stumble and fall (Proverbs 3:23)! You will run and not become weary and walk and not become faint (Isaiah 40:31)! You will live as more than an conqueror over your circumstances (Romans 8:37)! And, you can count every trial and difficulty as a joy when you TRUST AND RELY ON GOD FOR EVERYTHING!
In conclusion for myself, I have learned that there IS rest for the weary. I have learned that sleep is not the only kind of rest. While I pray for physical sleep and am so thankful when I have a good night of sleep, I do not fear the sleeplessness. It is in these times, that I can practice acknowledging Him in all my ways through praise and pray and trust! This brings about a special kind of rest. Also, I have realized how much He sustains me the next day even when when I don’t sleep well. My Heavenly father is an ALL-LOVING ALL-SUFFICIENT FATHER WHO NEVER LETS ME DOWN!
