Do you struggle to get to sleep sometimes? I know I do. I lie there with a million thoughts running through my mind about the things I did or didn’t do that day, about any worries or thoughts I might have. Sometimes I'm exhausted but my brain is lit up like a lightbulb. But did you know that God cares about your sleep? The Bible is full of verses that speak about the importance of sleep and if it's important to Him, then it must be important for us. Read on for five Bible verses about sleeping in peace.
Sleep is essential to our physical and mental health. Adults need on average 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Are you getting enough sleep? We often think we can keep plodding on with sleep deprivation but Sleep Foundation states that "lack of sleep has been linked to a higher risk of... obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, poor mental health, and early death." So, please understand you are doing no one any favors by neglecting your sleep habits. You can't keep on running on empty. As well as being bad for us physically, sleep is also of huge importance for our mental health. Medical News Today suggests that rather than the common assumption that lack of sleep is a byproduct of mental health issues, some scientists have suggested that it is the other way around. If we could get our sleep in order, our mental health would be much improved.
I have this verse up on my daughter's wall and she says it when she can’t get to sleep. This verse can be used as a declaration against the anxiety that sometimes comes from not being able to sleep.
The whole of Psalm 139 is wonderful for bringing home the truth that God is continually there for us, but this verse especially combats the fear that can aris when we are alone at night and can’t sleep.
This verse shows that sleep and rest are perhaps even more important to God than work. He knows the importance of rest for His children, as rest shows that you are taking care of yourself and that you trust in His provision for your life.
This verse is a blessing to a household. That sweet sleep is synonymous with not worrying, and as we are reminded in James: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."Â 1 Peter 5:7 Perhaps we will be able to rest more deeply when we have truly cast our burdens onto Jesus.
Jesus emphasized time and time again that the value of His disciples' lives wasn't in what they achieved, or how much land or silver they owned, but in who they were, as beloved children of God.
So, what are some steps we can take to ensure we settle and sleep well? As mentioned on the Medical News Today website above, a healthy bedtime routine is so important in settling well to sleep. Read on for a quick guide.
The bedroom should be reserved for sleep. This will help your brain to associate it with rest. Avoid working or watching screens in the bedroom. Make sure to go to bed when you are tired and are more likely to fall asleep quickly. Likewise, get up 15-20 minutes after waking. If you watch screens in bed or keep irregular sleep patterns, your body is more likely to find it harder to stick to a pattern.
Try to avoid screens for an hour before bedtime as the blue light can wake up your brain. Try reading instead.
Write down the things that were hard today and the things you are thankful for. This will help you to let go of any negative emotions and it will stop thoughts from percolating around and around.
Try to go to bed at a sensible time each night and try to make it a regular time.
With the best will in the world, I still find there are times when I can’t sleep. Whilst lying in the dark, I pray through my day and I ask God to speak to me. I will sometimes flick the light on and read a few chapters of my book. Often, when a storm has woken me in the night, I lie there thinking of all the other people also woken by the storm and I pray. Sometimes being awake in the night feels kind of special, and sometimes I don't mind those times of wakefulness.
I hope these five Bible verses about sleeping in peace will help you to re-evaluate your bedtime routine and resolve any sleep issues you have. Check out our other blogs on the Glorify App for more advice on looking after your spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing. In closing, here is a prayer that you can say to round up your day before sleeping.
Heavenly Father, I come to You now. I give to You all the worries of the day (name these). I thank You for all the good things in my life today too (name these). Bring peace to my heart and my body. Amen.
Download Glorify Today
