Tonight's Word 🌱

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
- Proverbs 3:24

If you saw anyone nodding off today during work or on the bus, it is a possibility that they were 'celebrating' World Sleep Day. Yes, you read correctly. I was pleasantly surprised too to learn that there is a day set aside every year to commemorate it. According to the advocates, its objective is to serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy sleep habits for overall well-being. By promoting awareness and understanding of sleep disorders, World Sleep Day aims to reduce their impact on society and improve global health.

So out of curiosity, I started researching this very common, yet seldom acknowledged part of our daily life, called sleep. According to Wikipedia, "sleep is a state of reduced mental and physical activity in which consciousness is altered and certain sensory activity is inhibited. During sleep, there is a marked decrease in muscle activity and interactions with the surrounding environment." It also explains that in addition to the dream state during sleep, "most of the body's systems are in an anabolic state, helping to restore the immune, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems which are vital processes that maintain mood, memory, and cognitive function, and play a large role in the function of the endocrine and immune systems." Isn't that wonderful? Based on this, we can agree that sleep not only gives us rest but also renews us. We can also conclude that when an individual isn't sleeping well, it affects the body's restorative functions, and impacts on overall health. 

Have you ever had sleep issues, or do you usually sleep well? At times, we can attribute our sleep deficits to either environments that are not conducive to sleep, demanding schedules, illness, worries or stressful phases in our life that cause us to be on hyperdrive and affects our ability to slow down and switch off. It is indeed a blessing if one can still peacefully sleep despite the storms and disturbances of life. My mind can't help but go through the Bible to see if there was an example of anyone who displayed this ability. My thoughts keep coming back to Jesus. The account tells of a storm that is suddenly stirred up in the sea while Jesus and his disciples are sailing on their boat. The disciples, naturally become worried and frantically try to do their part to keep the boat steady and afloat. Can you imagine their shock when they notice that Jesus is still fast asleep, while the boat is tossing and turning with the furious winds and waves? 

This story is such a powerful lesson. Firstly, we don't want to disqualify the fear of the disciples. The disciples had every right to be afraid. It is a harsh reality that storms cause damage, capsize boats and even cause death. Like them, we too have been through life experiences with storms of turmoil, grief, uncertainty, loss, struggle, fear, worry, etc. The point they completely missed however was that Jesus was in the boat with them. Jesus, the Creator, the Word, the Son of God, was in the boat with them. This same Jesus whose commands were instantly obeyed by the elements, as evidenced through Creation, was in their boat. They couldn't and wouldn't touch Him, even if they tried. This is why He could sleep so soundly in the middle of the storm, because He was in the safe bosom of the Father. I ask myself, what is the lesson in this for me?

Yes, my boat is vulnerable to the elements of life on this earth. What I can find assurance in however, is that as long as Jesus is in my lifeboat, I can still manage a smile at the storm, and maybe even sleep as soundly as Jesus. Are we there yet? Wouldn't I like to be able to demonstrate such faith that I can still sleep soundly in the middle of life's storms? Even if perhaps we have not reached entirely yet, we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus models a certain standard of faith and trust that brings a level of peace that surpasses all human understanding. If we can fully trust that He is well aware of what is happening in our individual lives, and can intervene at anytime, according to His greater will, we can truly rest, trustingly and peacefully, in His name, that He who wants what is best for us, is still in control.

I pray that tonight, we can experience the sweet sleep in this life that is spoken of in the guidelines found in Proverbs 3:21-24.

"My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. thank You once again for life, and all that You have granted us in the present. I pray that You look into our lives, and that you seek out the various storms that may be brewing, anything that might be threatening our peace of mind, consciously or subconsciously. Anything that may be affecting our ability to sleep soundly, be it mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. I invite You into my life, into my boat, and take control. However we may have found our way into these waters, show us, guide us safely back out. If the storm is there for a reason ad a season, I pray that you bless each individual with the grace and peace of mind to navigate through it, with full trust in Your ability to command the storm to be still according to Your divine will. Help us to trust in Your divine plan, to not panic as soon as something goes wrong, but to trust that You are with us, even to the end. In complete trust, our spirit thrives, is renewed, and grows in grace, Save our souls, and grant us the blessing of sweet sleep, even tonight, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Do enjoy the song below. God bless and be with us all. 🎧🙏🏼

The Night Song [City Alight]

References:

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep