The Christian is not immune from the cares and frustrations of living in a stressful world. Our bodies and minds are constantly impacted by what is happening in our environment. Insomnia means, according to christianhospital.org, having trouble sleeping at night, staying asleep, or both. This particular disorder is widespread and affects persons from all backgrounds. Lack of sleep can disrupt day-to-day activities, upend our emotions and negatively impact relationships. God is interested in all aspects of our lives, including our sleep quality. For those who have insomnia, scripture provides remedies that help quiet nerves, give lifestyle guidance, and hear God’s take on the value of rest. You are encouraged to take advantage of the dynamic Amen App that provides you with soothing, scripture-based sleep sounds for a beautiful night’s sleep. This application may be just the cure for your insomnia as you ponder on encouraging scriptures for quality rest.
Scriptures on Sleep (Or Lack of It)
- Mark 4: 38 “But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Trust God with the stormy situations in our lives. God does care about what causes us to toss and turn at night. He never sleeps, so we don’t need to awaken Him to our distresses. Give them over to Him and ask Him to calm our nerves.
- Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Having faith in God’s presence in your life helps to eliminate fear and distrust. Sleep can become elusive when we worry about our standing with the Father. It is best to stop struggling and accept that He is indeed working out His will in our individual lives.
- Psalm 127:2 “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so He giveth His beloved sleep.” The counsel given here is plain. God’s ideal is balance, which is, in the case of sleep, going to bed early and rising to be creative. Lack of sleep saps one’s energy, making one heavy and often-times sorrowful. Our Heavenly Father created sleep for a reason, and He gave it to us to be utilized to refresh the spirit.
- Psalm 32: 4 “For day and night thy hand was heavy upon my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.” As David penned these words, he was consumed with guilt because of his sins. Guilt is a prime culprit in sleeplessness. When we are ashamed of our actions, and we can’t seem to shake the feeling of God’s condemnation, we need to remember that confessing our sins is one step towards regaining sleep. God’s forgiveness gives rest and renewed strength.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It may sound like a cliché, praying before going to bed is a sleeping aid that many can attest to. God’s will is that we have a thankful spirit. We should guard against ingratitude and having a pessimistic outlook. A constant attitude of prayerfulness sets up the mind for entering into restfulness because we are assured that God has heard our prayer and will respond according to His will.