Scriptures for Sleeplessness

We have all experienced it at one point or another. Tossing and turning and a fitful night’s sleep if you happen to get any sleep at all. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one quarter of Americans report not getting enough sleep; almost ten percent experience chronic insomnia or some other sleep disorder. Poor sleep is a public health concern because it has been linked to chronic medical diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. “While sleep disturbance has long been held to be an important symptom of depression, recent research has indicated that depressive symptoms may decrease once sleep apnea has been effectively treated and sufficient sleep restored” (Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/index.html, May 10, 2016). Truthfully, what comes first, the mental or medical disturbance or the sleep disturbance, does not really matter. The bigger issue is how lonely it feels to be consistently awake at 3am and unable to rest through the night. If that is you, here is some comfort from the scriptures.

God Gives Provision in Sleep

It is vain for you to rise up early to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. - Psalms 127:2

One of the things that robs us of sleep is an inability to unplug. With all kinds of tablets and smart devices at arm’s length at any given moment, there is no longer separation between our work, home, and social realms. There is a constant portal right there all the times. In some industries, it is even applauded to burn the midnight oil and respond to emails in the middle of the night. Many forsake sleep because they are driven to try to stay ahead of the curve. But for the believer, these self-efforts are in vain because God promises to restore us and provide everything that we could possibly need, even as we sleep. We just need to recall His promise of provision.

God Gives Protection in Sleep

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He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. - Psalms 121:3-4

Another robber of sleep is fear. Whether it is actual fear of something that could realistically happen, or imagined fear of something that only might happen, this is probably the biggest thing that keeps people up at night. Worry might prevent you from falling asleep at all, or worry might take over and keep you up once you have awakened. When you find yourself in this predicament, be encouraged that God is awake too. He never sleeps. He does not need to and He is already watching over you and working in the situation that troubles you. When you recognize that protection, sometimes that can calm your soul enough to lie back down.

God Gives Peace in Sleep

In peace, I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. - Psalms 4:8

A third area that robs us of sleep is simply the worry around sleeplessness itself. If you have struggled with insomnia, chances are you also deal with stress around bedtime. There is now a mental block around going to sleep as you anticipate it being a struggle. That alone can be enough to prevent sleep even if you were tired enough to sleep. That is where this promise comes in handy. When you remind yourself that it is God’s will that you lie down and sleep peacefully, that it is His desire that you rest securely in His safety, sometimes that is all the encouragement you need to nod off into heavenly peace.

God Gives Practical Wisdom About Sleep

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. – Proverbs 4:7

A final robber of sleep is just our own habits. There are many things we do regularly that can interfere with catching much needed Z’s. Here are practical areas to be aware of and modify to help improve the quality of our sleep.

No more drama- Let’s be honest. We all have guilty pleasures. It could be trashy reality TV or gripping network or Netflix dramas. Whatever it is, if its time slot is 9 or 10pm, it might be keeping us up at night. Sometimes the plot twists are too exhilarating to watch so close to bedtime. We are more concerned with what will happen in the next episode than how to calm our minds and prepare for the next day. Consider watching your favorite shows at an earlier time the following day or on a weekend, so you can quiet your mind before sleep.

Mind your liquids- As you might imagine, drinking any liquid too close to bedtime will increase your chances of needing to use the bathroom overnight. If you are already having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, a disruption like this will not help matters. Try to cut back on liquids at least a couple of hours before you say good night, so you are less likely to keep up overnight.

Limit uppers and downers- This is a common tip, but try to limit your caffeine intake, not just in the evening, but throughout the day as well. You might think can handle that afternoon cup of joe, but it might be enough to keep you up at night. You might also be mindful of caffeine in unexpected places such as medications (Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-land-nod/201405/10-reasons-you-cant-get-good-nights-sleep, May 10, 2016). Also, reconsider that night cap. While alcohol might help you feel relaxed, it can interfere with your sleep cycle as well (Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/features/dssleep/, May 10, 2016). Consider having that glass of wine with an earlier dinner time rather than so close to bed.

See a doctor- If you feel as though you have done all you can…if you skip that late night drama you love, you limit when you drink and what you drink, if you head off worry and stress with promises from the scriptures and you still cannot sleep, perhaps something is off balance biologically. Consult a medical professional to explore possible hormonal changes, neurological issues, undiagnosed medical or emotional conditions, etc. You might be driving yourself crazy trying to treat a symptom or identify a reason why when it was something that could be easily treated medically.

God Gives the Promise of His Rest and Sleep

Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

There are many reasons for the occasional sleepless night. Poor sleep could be caused by a snoring partner, a distracting pet, or perhaps an infant or toddler who does not yet sleep through the night. Maybe it is due to worry about a school assignment, a work related project, or perhaps an unsettling conflict with someone. Every once and a while it is just a fluke and while you are dragging along the next day, you can usually recover the following night. There are times, however, when sleeplessness is more than a fluke. It is more than just frustrating. It becomes a persistent problem that begins to trouble you. When that is the case, realize that God’s desire is to restore your body and soul. Take a holistic approach by nourishing all parts of you. And, of course, encourage your spirit with these promises from the scripture, knowing that God’s desire is to bless and restore you even as you sleep.