Do you ever have a hard time sleeping? Do you frequently have a hard time sleeping?!
I have had issues with that sometimes. And there are many possible contributing factors which vary from person to person. If the problem for you is worrying about money or over-working, then God speaks to that, namely about losing sleep for a particular reason.
“It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2 NKJV)
When I first discovered that verse, I committed it to memory and have never forgotten it.
I doubt there are many people, if any, who get to retirement age or the end of life and say to themselves, “I spent too much time with my family. I should have worked more!” It’s the other way around, right? We discover too late that all that excessive worry and work wore us down and robbed us of precious relationship time and the joys of life.
Now, obviously work is important and work is good. But when it gets out of proportion in the priorities of life, it can steal our health, our peace, our joy, and many other things.
God wants us to be healthy, fulfilled, and yes … happy. These things happen by adopting the patterns of God, the kingdom life that Jesus taught in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5,6,7). If you will live in God’s way instead of the world’s way, you can claim the promise of Psalm 127:2 … God grants sleep (literal translation would be “peaceful sleep”) to those whom he loves.
Now getting up early is the habit of some and staying up late is the habit of others. But this Psalm is about someone who, because of worry or stress, gets up too early or stays up too late. Maybe they even do both! It is about obsessing over your work and worrying about your provision … to the extent that you can’t sleep well, and as a result you do not enjoy the fruit of your labors. It is about the high cost of failure to trust in God’s provision. In contrast, God-given rest, peaceful sleep, is the glorious gift associated with believing his promises.
Trust God for your needs, and you can enjoy your work instead of dreading it. You can be satisfied with what you have and stop “burning your candle at both ends.”
Do you “eat the bread of sorrows”? That’s like working and fretting so much that eating the food you have bought with your paycheck is not enjoyable, because you have made yourself emotionally sick trying to “make ends meet.” (Holy cow, this means that not only do you have sleep problems, you have digestive problems as well!!!)
“Our God will supply all our needs, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) So, do the wise thing. Be satisfied. Be at peace. Settle down in your mind. Give thanks. Eat some bread of blessing, instead of “bread of sorrows.” And then, of course, go to bed and sleep well tonight!
Be blessed!
Chaplain Mark
I think many men have that battle, including me. But I have changed greatly over the course of my life. The credit goes to God and my wife.
I used to be that person. Chasing work for work sake at the expense of everything else Including sleep. I worried about not having enough for the acceptance of this world. I thought I had to chase the world‘s ways to be accepted. I never had enough. Finally one day God said enough and retirement was forced upon me. It was a life changing event I did not enjoy nor accept.
Today, I look look back and all of the accomplishments of my work life are gone. They are replaced with what’s truly important family, friends and sleep. I now look for the small things God gives us everyday and enjoy the blessings of life, God provides.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzx
I love this and will pass it on to family and friends. thanks for all your encouragement daily. we really appreciate it