If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, you know how hard it can be to sleep. The night, cloaked in darkness, can ravage our minds with fears of the unknown. But eventually, even the anxious sleep. We were made that way; we need sleep. As we slumber, we are left in quite a vulnerable position. We can’t defend ourselves. We can’t see what’s heading our way. Sleep reminds us every day of our helplessness.
Dwelling in Safety
King David had every right to be anxious. He experienced betrayal from among his closest friends (Psa 41:9), and even his own son (2 Sam 15). He spent a portion of his life hiding in a cave, because King Saul was trying to kill him (1 Sam 22:1). Yet listen to what He says about sleep –
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
David trusted in the fact that it was not the might of his arm or the watchfulness of his eyes that kept him safe; it was the Lord who made him dwell in safety. And God is the greatest night-watchman you could ever ask for – because first of all He is God Almighty, and secondly – He never sleeps. He is always watching over you.
“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:3-4
In the dead of night, when your anxieties are plaguing your mind, remember this fact – He who keeps you will not slumber. He is in control of your life. Your destiny is in His good, loving, strong, and faithful hands. It’s not all up to you.
“Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God.” John Piper
While You Were Sleeping
Sometimes it can be hard to let go of control. Even though we are plagued with anxieties about the future, we still desperately hold onto control of our lives. We think that we can master our own destinies by getting up early, and going to bed late; trying to do all the things that are still undone. But sleep reminds us daily that we are not in control; that we are not our own masters. A third of our lives are spent living in a totally helpless state of sleep.
God doesn’t need sleep. He is all-powerful (Matt 19:26); sovereign over all creation (Dan 4:35); never helpless, but always our help (Psa 121:2). In the end, it is an infinitely good thing that He is in control of the universe, and our lives, and not us. Apart from God, humans perpetually screw things up. We make the wrong decisions. We hurt others and ourselves. We are limited by our narrow vision. We can’t see the big picture of the cosmos. We can’t see all ends. We can’t even go a day without sleeping.
The Gospel tells us that apart from God we are helpless creatures (John 15:5). After the fall (Gen 3), mankind was cut off from the life of God; totally incapable of restoring itself to true life, and helpless to cure itself of its own wickedness (Rom 3:10-12). But we have a strong Saviour and Helper. While we were still weak, Christ gave us His strength (Rom 5:6-8). He loved us with an everlasting love, and broke the power of sin and death over our lives (1 Cor 15:56-57). While we were as helpless as a sleeping baby, Christ protected us with His very life. While we were sleeping in our sins, He defeated our greatest foes.
While we were sleeping.
He Keeps You
In Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family (Eph 1:5). And our Father is the culmination of all that is good, beautiful and strong. He is trustworthy (Psa 111:7). He holds us in the palm of His hand (John 10:29). He is our help and He always keeps us (Psa 121:7).
He keeps you. Let that sink in in the dead of night, when fears threaten to run away with your peace.
You are never safer than when you are sleeping under the watchful care of God. So cast all your anxieties upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Give up control of your life, because sleep daily reminds you that you never were in control in the first place. God is the reason you exist and the author and preserver of your life (1 Cor 8:6). While you sleep, He slays your greatest foes. He never sleeps, so that you can.
“God is not nearly so impressed with our late nights and early mornings as he is with the peaceful trust that casts all anxieties on him and sleeps.” John Piper
