A Quiet Night's Rest

Lessons from Psalms: 3

“Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.” Ps. 4:4

I am among the world’s worst sleepers. I have been since childhood. Unfortunately I cannot offer you a remedy for insomnia. What we find in both Psalm 3 and 4 is a promise for a quiet and peaceful night. Psalm 3 says, “I lay down and slept; I awoke for the Lord sustained me.” Psalm 4 uses our verse for today. Psalm 4 teaches us that David didn’t always fall right to sleep at night. Our security in Christ is not a panacea for insomnia.

What we do find is a purposeful activity while we await sleep. Meditation on the wonder of God’s care is far better than a wandering mind or bringing up all the unfinished business of the day. Psalm 1 says, “And in His law he meditates day and night.” Meditation is a spiritual discipline that is oft repeated in the Psalms. Luther practiced meditating twice each day using the Gloria Patri, the Ten Commandments, a psalm, the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. That may sound like a lot, but it actually takes less than two minutes to recite them. Add to that a hymn of praise and some verses of comfort and, while it might not put you to sleep, it is better than lying awake with all the other cares that could come to mind. David said that it helped the mind to be still and that is pretty much what we want when we can’t sleep.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your watch care over us at night. Help us to think of Your grace when we can’t sleep. Amen. 

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