Daily Devotional for Friday, May 31

The Supplication and Security

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety,” Psalm 4:7, 8.

Over-the-counter sleep aids, background noise machines and box fans are items many of us use to sleep better, to fall asleep faster or to battle insomnia. My dad and I both can fall asleep within thirty seconds after lying down. My mom sometimes takes an hour. We always tease her and say that we have a clear conscience and can fall asleep faster. She always replies that a clear conscience and no conscience are not the same thing.

Sleep can sometimes be hard to come by for many reasons, but often it is because of the cares of our lives. We worry about our family. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our finances and our country and health and so many things. At times we need medical assistance to deal with sleep issues, and that is certainly recommended if medical means are appropriate. But we find in Psalm 4 another antidote to many sleep issues: trust in God.

The modern world gives us many things to worry about that can keep us up at night. Shutting off our brains can often feel impossible. When we get still and begin to process the day or the week or even our lives, our minds race to conclusions, they run to dead ends, and they often trip upon all the possible outcomes. We need peace to sleep, and since life does not always give us peace, we must turn to Jesus. In Him, we have our refuge and our strength. In Him, we find the possibility of safety and sleep.

REFLECTION
We trust Jesus with our eternal destiny; we must also trust Him with the cares and anxieties that keep us awake.

Jason Rutherford