It’s one of those nights when
sleep just won’t come. About once a week, caffeine, RLS, or “Busy Brain” keep
me up till the wee hours, bring me wide awake after just an hour or two of
sleep, or wake me to check the time every hour all night long. It can be very
frustrating, especially when I have a busy day ahead. However, other nights, it
can be an interesting, intriguing, productive time.
From midnight to 5:00 AM, our neighborhood is pretty quiet—and so is our household. Even our cat, Watson, doesn’t stir during those hours. In warmer months when I can’t sleep, I like to go outside, gaze at the stars, and praise God for His awesome creativity. When it’s too chilly to go out, I make a cup of herbal tea, wrap myself in a warm, fleecy throw, and pray, write, read my Bible, or a cozy up with a good Christian book.
Yes, sometimes sleepless nights are a gift—the gift of uninterrupted time—time to read God’s Word, to seek God’s guidance, to pray for friends, family, and world situations, to confess sins and shortcomings, to pen an encouraging note to a struggling friend, to journal the thoughts and ideas God has brought to mind, to catch up on some spiritually enriching reading, or to simply contemplate and praise God for the blessings He has given.
It seems King David also experienced some sleepless nights. He writes, “I lie awake at night, thinking of Your promises.” (Psalm 119:148) “As I lie on my bed, I remember You, Lord. Through the long hours of the night, I think about You. (Psalm 63:6) “Each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. (Psalm 42:8)”
How do you spend sleepless nights? Any helpful advice so we can all . . .
Be encouraged!
