PSALM 4:8 – In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

How did you sleep last night? Last week? Last month? During this past year? Some studies indicate 70% of adults obtain insufficient sleep at least one night a month, and 11% report insufficient sleep every night. It is estimated that sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes. I wonder what the statistics would be for Christians.

Further studies provide these common causes of poor sleep-stress, concerns about work, school, health, finances or family challenges. Additionally, stressful life events or trauma can keep your mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep. Stressful life events or trauma such as the death or illness of a loved one, divorce, or a job loss also may lead to insomnia. Again, I wonder what the statistics would before Christians.

When it comes to causes of sleeplessness, we might add one more and that from our Lord Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount–anxiety. Three times He gives the command “Therefore do not be anxious” three times (Matthew 6:25, 31, 34). They point to anxiety or worry over our lives, our provisions (cares of the world), and our future (state of the world). Now I want to be sensitive in this area of anxiety. There maybe medical or physiological reasons beyond the scope of today’s nugget, but what is clear from Jesus there is a sinful anxiety because He gave the command “Don’t be anxious” and when it comes to worry over our lives, our care, and our future, this is sinful. And if these things are keeping us awake, they are sinful, but we don’t have to toss and turn all night or pace the floor in the dead of night mulling over all the potential “what ifs” of life. We may sleep well for all is well.

In today’s scripture, David is our example. Three things we may learn from him that will help us towards a good night of sleep.

First, he knows the source of his peace and safety is not in good circumstances in life, financial security, or the type of government leaders in place. When reading our Bibles make sure we don’t skip or quickly gloss over words. God told us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”(2 Timothy 3:16). Every word matters. Every word is His. Before we drive this point home to our hearts in David’s example to quiet our anxious hearts and minds, here is an illustration why every word in our Bibles matters and must be handled with thought and care. Perhaps the most known verse in the Bible is this one-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life(John 3:16). Feel the intensity of the verse by one little two letter word–so. Now read it with that word removed–For God loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Big difference, right? Back to David. He sleeps well because of one word–alone–for You ALONE, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. We will lose sleep if we try to handle anxiety, stress, and worry by anyone or anything but the Lord alone. And it cannot be the Lord plus. Christ alone causes us to dwell in safety snuggled up in our beds at night for a good night’s sleep.

Another lesson from David is he exercises faith before he goes to bed. Watch him prepare for the night. He tells himself, “In peace, I will both lie down and sleep.” He exercises faith that the Lord would be His safety and watchman through the night. He isn’t even in bed but knows sleep is coming. That is what faith does. It acts on a promise without feeling the promise. And no doubt David slept well for God honors faith, even the faith that trusts the Lord for a good night’s sleep.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to cast all my burdens and worries upon You and leave them.”

QUOTE: “All fretting, worrying, and being anxiety-riddled will do is drain you emotionally, spiritually, and physically.”