Trouble sleeping?

I have no problem falling asleep. It kind of annoys my wife how quickly I can fall asleep. My head hits the pillow and I’m out within minutes. She might even be talking to me and I start to snore (thus the annoyance). Now to defend myself, it’s not that I didn’t think her thoughts were important, it’s just that my body has decided when I lie down, it’s shutting down. 

So I have no trouble getting to sleep, but staying asleep is another story. I’ve talked with friends who shared how they slept in and got 10 hours of sleep. I’m jealous. First, I’m wondering how they can even do that, and then I find myself longing to do that. My body has decided that I should wake up after six hours whether I want to or not. I’ve tried arguing with my body and telling it that it really wants to sleep longer, but so far it hasn’t listened. Six hours and no more. You can do the simple math. If I go to bed at 10:30 PM, I’m waking up at 4:30 AM. And on some occasions my body says, “Today, I think five hours is plenty!" And so there I am awake at 3:30 in the morning, wondering if I should find a rooster and shout “Cocka-doodle-doo!” 

As much as that has frustrated me, I know I’m not alone in my sleep issues. There’s a whole industry and medical field dealing with it. Millions struggle with sleep. I also think some of the Psalmists struggled with sleep. I’m not sure if they had difficulties getting to sleep or staying asleep, but when you read the Psalms you see that night time was often active. Here are a few examples:
Psalm 16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

Psalm 42:8  But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 63:6  I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.
Psalm 77:6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.”

Those psalms represent three different psalmists, and all of them find a spiritual use for nighttime insomnia. They turn to the LORD. Whether that be singing songs of praise, times of prayer, or reflecting and meditating on Him, they turn to the LORD in the night. These psalmists use those night time wake hours as opportunities for engagement with the Almighty. And what a great way to spend those hours. That’s something I’ve been seeking to do more of when I find myself rising earlier than I desire. It’s easy to let my mind wander about the “to do’s” of the day or grab my phone and scan FaceBook or read the latest headlines. But how much more productive to turn my thoughts to the LORD through meditation, prayer, or songs of praise instead. That’s what the psalmists did.

There’s plenty of benefits that go along with that. One of which we find in Psalm 119:55. Here it is in the New Living Translation: I reflect at night on who you are, O LORD; therefore, I obey your instructions.

That translation expresses a causal relationship. The consequence of reflecting on who God is at night is obedience to God the rest of the time. And that’s absolutely true. As I reflect on the person and nature of God and consider His glory, might, love and majesty, I’m humbled into obedience. Why would I not obey such an amazing God? Taking those wake times in the night to turn to the LORD will deepen our walk of obedience.

Perhaps the reason so many struggle as disciples of Jesus is their failure to meditate and reflect on who God truly is. We don’t take the time at night or even in the day to meditate on who God is and that negatively impacts our behavior. There's an easy fix. When you wake up at night or when you struggle to fall asleep, do what the psalmists did. Reflect on who God is and what He has done for you. Let the word of God churn in your mind and heart. Offer Him words or thoughts of praise for the glory of His being. Sing a song of praise for His love, grace, and holiness (but not so loud that you wake up your spouse). Use those night hours as a means to draw closer to God. And as you draw near to Him in the night, you will find it easier to obey Him in the day. 

So do you have trouble sleeping? Well you're in good company. The psalmists did too, and like them, you can use those night hours to deepen your walk with the LORD. 
“I reflect at night on who you are, O LORD; therefore, I obey your instructions.” Psalm 119:55