Christians are blessed because they have a spiritual solution to restless nights which has stood the test of time. Today’s sermon “Shut Eye” was preached by Pastor Pamela on Sunday 19th May 2024.
Sermon Transcript
There is so much information out there on good sleep hygiene or good sleep habits. And yet millions upon millions of people will be struggling with sleep tonight.
There are things that we can do to give us a better chance of having a good night’s sleep such as
• Not drinking coffee too late in the afternoon
• Having your evening meal at least three hours before you go to bed
• Eating for good health
• Making sure your bedroom is dark, quiet and cool (if it’s not quiet put some ear plugs in)
• Don’t expose yourself to artificial sources of blue light like your smart phone just before you want to fall asleep
• Get some physical exercise during the day (and I’m talking about getting your heart rate up for at least 20 min/day)
• Get some sunlight during the day – let the sun hit your face, your arms and your legs
• Try and stick to the same sleeping hours each night.
• Have a very hot shower just before you go to bed. So that when you go to bed your body temperature is dropping from having that shower (which is what it does when you fall asleep)
• And spouses, don’t argue or begin deep and meaningful conversations before you need to fall asleep. Just say really nice things to each other. Think of something good to say about your partner before you wander into dreamland. That is a very selfless thing to do. Care about them and their spiritual/mental wellbeing
All of those points are great points to remember and do. They work. We must take care of ourselves physically, emotionally and mentally.
But I was pondering this week, can a lack of sleep also indicate a spiritual problem? Does the Bible say anything to guide us in our sleep patterns? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is yes to both questions.
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, teach us by Your precious Word this morning. Give us ears to hear, minds to understand and a desire to do Your Word. Lord, I pray for anyone who is currently struggling in the area of lack of sleep, or having too much sleep, that LORD a miracle will happen in their lives as a result of them believing Your Word. Amen
Upon close inspection of the life of King David, of the Old Testament, it’s clear that he had some very good reasons for experiencing restless nights. In fact, he, more than likely, had greater reasons than any of us have ever had! Particularly when he was fleeing from his son Absalom who wanted to steal his throne.
King David was not by any means a model father. He made some bad calls (hey, a lot of people do). But he deeply loved his rebellious son Absalom, who wanted to seize his throne and kill him. That’s pretty serious stuff. Having your son coming after you to kill you. Thats a newsworthy event! And Absalom nearly succeeded.
The years leading up to his rebellion was a politically manipulative time. Consequently, Absalom had garnered the support and backing of thousands of men who were once loyal subjects of King David. David was forced to flee from Jerusalem with his household, his loyal officials, and others who were faithful to him. It was an awful time for David for sooo many reasons.
He had reason to feel fear.
He had reason to feel shame & regret.
He had reason to feel betrayed.
He had reason to feel depressed.
He had reason to feel unloved.
He had reason to feel a failure both as a king and a father.
He had reason to feel lonely.
He had reason to feel angry.
He had a reason to feel incredibly sad.
He had a reason to feel all kinds of emotional discomfort and pain.
The future, no matter what happens, whether he dies or the son he loves dies, appeared to be extremely bleak.
His family had literally imploded!
There was nothing good to think about at all.
This is one of those occasions when lying down, in an attempt to rest, appears to be pointless, because all the mind is doing is chasing its own desperate thoughts.
What am I going to do? What’s going to happen to my family? What’s going to happen to the nation of Israel?
Things King David could have said, should have said and wouldn’t have said swirl around and around and around his brain…
Ever had one of those kinds of nights???
Where you silently say to yourself, “I’m not going to think about it, I’m not going to think about it, I’m not going to think about it” and all you do is think about what you’re not going to think about!
Do you know what these restless kind of nights accomplish?
Absolutely nothing except your tiredness and exhaustion. It’s true, they give you grey hairs and make you look old.
Because instead of resting you are wrestling! X2
A wrestling brain is a stressed brain.
And a continuously stressed brain wreaks havoc only on YOU!!! There is another way. There is another way for Christians to deal with a wrestling brain!
We are very blessed as Christians because we have a spiritual solution to restless nights which has stood the test of time. And we’re talking over 3000 years’ worth of time.
The turmoil and uncertainty concerning Absalom’s rebellion inspired David to write Psalm 3. And many scholars believe that it also inspired him to write Psalm 4.
Let’s have a look at these Psalms, shall we and see another way, a better way than having a restless night with a wrestling brain.
Psalm 3
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.
3 But You, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May Your blessing be on Your people.
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to You,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart His faithful servant for Himself;
the Lord hears when I call to Him.
4 Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of Your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
What beautiful Psalms which have been a comfort to millions and millions of people down through the ages!
Yes, you may experience poor, restless nights when you are busy wrestling in your mind, often over things much less significant to King David’s issues. Sometimes you maybe just wrestling with the simple thought of NOT SLEEPING – that’s your biggest problem, that’s your biggest wrestling match but it can still cause a long sleepless night!
However, David, had learnt to sort things out pretty quickly. He always got to the truth of the matter because he knew God personally. John 8:32 says, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Who is the truth people? JESUS
John 8:36 says “If Jesus sets you free, then you are free indeed!!!”
As Christians we should live by truth. Our truth is GOD’S truth which is absolute truth. For us there’s no such thing as ‘my truth’ because I don’t know everything. But I do know the One who does know everything and that is JESUS, so it is Him who I choose to believe, and it is His truth I rely upon.
According to the Psalms I’ve just read, here’s the truth, here’s the real way to address thoughts that lead to sleepless nights. No matter what those thoughts maybe. No matter how significant or insignificant they are. Tackle them down with the word of God. Tackle them down with this truth.
The Lord, is a shield around me,
my glory (or victory) and the One who lifts my head high (I don’t need to experience shame).
I will not fear no matter how many are against me because the Lord, my God, delivers me! HE DELIVERS ME!
He strikes ALL my enemies on the jaw. (Sometimes your worst enemy is your own bad thoughts – Please allow God to strike your own bad thoughts down with the truth of His word! His word will tackle those stupid thoughts down.)
I call out to the Lord, and He answers me.
That’s a fact. He doesn’t ignore, He answers.
I lie down quietly, I make sure my heart is right with Him, and then I sleep; I wake again, (I haven’t died of a heart attack in the middle of the night from fear. No NO NO I wake up from my sleep) because the Lord sustains me.
He delivers me but He does more than that He blesses me. God has set me apart for Himself (I belong to Him) and because of this, the Lord hears me when I call to Him.
No matter the circumstance,
No matter the circumstance,
No matter the circumstance,
No matter the circumstance,
in peace I lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
It is pretty clear that the Bible strongly suggests that inability to sleep in times of trial reflects a lack of trust in the Lord. In Psalm 3 and Psalm 4, David is able to sleep amid life’s greatest trials because of his confidence that the Lord alone made him “dwell in safety.”
Our God, Our CREATOR is big enough and strong enough to deal with every single one of your issues. If your faith will allow it, He will (on your behalf) tackle them and wrestle them quickly to the floor so that you can rest in peace.
You know, this brings to mind the time when Jesus slept in a boat during a savage storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were frantically wrestling with the storm but Jesus, in contrast, was as snug as a bug in a rug resting in the storm at the back of the boat.
The disciples were wrestling with the storm, Jesus was resting IN the storm.
His resting was a very clear expression of HIS absolute trust in GOD.
Jesus should be our example people.
He is our example.
NO matter what you are facing, let Jesus be your REST.
In Matthew 11:28
Jesus said,
“Come to Me… I will give you REST.”
Jesus is our rest because He has already done the wrestling. Please stop wrestling the storm yourself and allow His peace to be Your experience.
So next time worry keeps you awake consider opening your Bible before you head to the medicine cabinet. There you’ll find the comforting voice of Jesus urging, in John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me”.
And just one more thing, as I finish with a little humour. But many a true word is spoken in jest. It’s interesting to note that when Jesus wanted His disciples TO stay awake and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane before His brutal execution, that’s when they all fell asleep!
Maybe there’s something in that. Next time when you find sleep to be a little evasive, maybe you should have the attitude of “Oh good, I get to speak to Jesus all night long!” Then just lie still, silently praying, which includes telling Him how wonderful He is, and before you know it, you’ll be wandering off dreaming about Him.