Lullaby and Good Night...

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

I have a friend, a dear friend who has sleep issues. This person has a list of rituals that they believe have to be done and things they need to have in order to secure a good night's sleep. Lotion for the feet, a fan blowing on those feet, ear plugs, particular sleeping attire...just to name a few. If one or more of those things is unavailable, this person's capacity for sleep is severely impaired. God forbid there are noises and movement nearby, insomnia is inevitable.

Not being one to have sleep issues--I can sleep anywhere, through anything and be dead to the world, except when there's a lot on my mind--I really couldn't grasp the concept. I understood cognitively, but I was unable empathize; that is before today.

As I processed the scripture above this morning, it dawned on me that although I don't have a list of physical requirements that need to be in place before I can "sleep in peace", I do have a list of intangible, situational requirements. I can sleep in peace, when I'm sure the rent and other bills are paid and I have no concerns about my health or my family. When I'm pretty confident that I will have a job for the foreseeable future and that a cheque is coming on the 1st and the 15th, sleep comes easy. When I don't have to choose between my job, my relationships and my ministry, I can sleep quite comfortably. For me the absence of worry, fear, doubt, anxiety and uncertainty are crucial requirements for a good night's sleep.

But what truly is the source of my comfort? What gives me security? I had to stop and consider that this morning. What I discovered is that my comfort level depends primarily on my circumstances. When the equilibrium of my life is disturbed I am seldom able to "lie down and sleep...in peace". If the boat of my life is tossed by a "furious squall" like the disciples experienced in Mark 4, I highly doubt that I could, as Jesus was able to do, sleep in those conditions. Yet He was able to. How was He able to do that? How can I do likewise? How can I have peace of mind that allows me sleep despite my circumstances?

In the Psalm 4:8 above David gives us the answer. He was able to lie down and sleep in peace because he came to terms with and accepted the fact that ONLY the Lord allows Him to dwell in safety. Although the "rod" and the "staff" in Psalm 23 comfort him in "the valley of the shadow of death", his trust isn't in them. He "fears no evil" only because God is with him. The rod and staff, (which aren't David's by the way), comfort him because they serve as reminders of God's constant presence. In fact the use of the pronoun "Your/Thy" when referencing the “rod and staff” seems to suggest that David didn't even select these items by himself. It seems to imply that they were given to him. If I were David and I had to provide myself with items of comfort for the journey through "the valley of the shadow of death", I'm likely to have chosen a sword, a shield, a helmet, 3 slings and a bag of extra stones...just in case! I would insist on having all of them near me at all times because without them, I would feel helpless, naked and maybe even hopeless. I'd trust more in the "rod and staff" type items than the God who provides them as a comfort for me. Their presence would provide me just enough peace to sleep and then as an afterthought, I'd ask God to protect me.

Rituals and comfort items may help for a time, but what happens to us when they're not available? In order to have peace of mind for a good night's sleep we have to trust God. Period. It's just that simple. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Our minds can't stay steadfast and so have peace, in the absence of trust in God. We don't trust what we don't know, and trust is developed based on knowledge and experience. Is it possible then, that our ability to "lie down and sleep in peace" in the midst of a "furious squall" is a direct indicator of the depth of our experience with, knowledge of and trust in God?

It is my prayer today that those of us with "sleep issues" would consider replacing our rituals and requirements with the approach Paul recommends to the Philippians.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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." Philippians 4:4, 6-7 (NIV)

May we all seek deeper knowledge of and relationship with our Heavenly Father, by spending quality time in prayer and His Word. They are key ingredients to a good night's sleep!

Thank You Lord For Daily Bread.

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