There are nights that I just can’t sleep. I may have the worries from the day rolling around in my mind and heart, or I’m thinking about the schedules for the next day. There are times that I just don’t feel well, or a child is ill. As a mom of six, I have definitely had seasons of sleeplessness — from internal issues or external pressures or from teens or infants. I know that I need my sleep, but it can be hard to turn off my mind. So… What are we supposed to do when Christian women can’t sleep? How do we respond to sleeplessness as Children of God? I have listed three strategies below that have helped me get back to the peaceful restorative rest that my body, soul, and spirit needs.
1. Pray.
There are times that I have trouble sleeping because I have the cares of the day on my mind. Whether it was something from the day before or the day ahead, those things can crowd out my sleep. I take to heart First Peter 5:7, “Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you.” I take this quiet time in the middle of the night to lay those burdens on Jesus. They were not meant for me to carry. Releasing these things allows me to rest and go back to sleep. I rest in His goodness, His power, His wisdom, and His peace.
Many times, I will fall asleep praying… a sign that I have given it to my heavenly Father. I can trust Him and place those worries in His capable hands once again. John 14:1 commands, “Do not let your hearts be troubled; You believe in God, believe also in Me.” God instructs us not to worry. We have the option to trust instead of worry. When I can’t sleep, I pray! Laying my burdens at Jesus’ feet comforts my heart and gets me back to sleep.
2. Recite Bible Verses.
One of the disciplines that I began when I was teaching my children the alphabet was learning more Bible verses. Our preschoolers would learn a Bible verse that began with the letter of the alphabet that we were studying. For the letter “A” we learned, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) For the letter “K” we learned, “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” (Psalms 34:13) This became a challenge for me to memorize more than one verse per letter.
In the early hours of the morning when I am wide awake, I will review these verses. I will start with the letter “A”, reciting a Bible verse or two for each letter. While there are some nights that I make it through the whole alphabet, many nights I just make it to “G” or “N”. Reciting these verses comforts my heart. It fills it with the “peace that passes all understanding”. God’s Word brings a comfort that lets my heart, body, and soul find rest. Finding Bible verses that are especially comforting to you in your season of life would be extremely helpful to memorize and recite at night.
If you don’t have a list of verses memorized yet, find some that minister to your heart and situation. Put these on a piece of paper or cards beside your bed. They will bless you as you mediate on them overnight. They will focus your heart on the Word of God and comforts us as Psalm 23 says.
(Find out more about memorizing verses by letters of the alphabet, including a list of verses by letter, HERE. )
3. Count Your Blessings.
This has been a new tool for me when I am unable to sleep at night. It began recently when I was meditating on Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Don’t be anxious. Pray with thanksgiving. He will give you peace. I took Him at His Word and began listing the things I am thankful for — using the alphabet as my guide — when I couldn’t sleep one night.
I start with the letter “A” and list something that I am thankful for. Initially I listed the first thing that came to my mind… apples! As I laid there in my bed, I began to smile. “Apples? Really? That’s all you can think of?” But indeed, I AM thankful for apples and other good things to eat. I then went on to the letter “B”. That one was easy… the boys. We have three amazing boys. They get along well together, and the older boys are wonderful at teaching the youngest. I truly am thankful for these boys.
Then came the letter “C”. Our son Caleb was the first thing that came to my mind, but since I had just listed the boys for letter “B”, I challenged myself to find something different. “Chase”… my maiden name. I truly am thankful for my parents, my brothers, and their families … all with the last name Chase.
This listing continued for a few more letters, until I felt sleepy again. A gratefulness came over me with the realization that my God has provided so much for me. The worries that can crowd in as I sleep are all under His control whether I am conscious or not. When Christian women can’t sleep, they must count their blessings to regain the peace that comes from knowing that God is a good and gracious God.
In conclusion, having strategies ready for times of sleeplessness keeps me off my phone in the middle of the night. It helps me to focus on the Lord and His blessings in my life. His Word becomes my comfort and peace. Don’t be tempted to look at your phone, instead, plan to spend this time productively: praying, reciting Scripture, and counting your blessings. These three activities refocus our hearts on God and His Word and will restore sleep to restless hearts and minds.
Was “When Christian Women Can’t Sleep” helpful? Share what you do when you can’t sleep in the comments below. Find more articles for Christian Women, mothers, and homeschoolers HERE.
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