Having trouble getting to sleep? The psalmist settled on a solution
By Dean Collins
What’s your number?
The question could relate to many different subjects. As I read Psalm 4 the question occurred to me because the psalm ends with an allusion to the quality of sleep: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
I immediately thought of the many advertisements for a sleep-number bed. The manufacturer claims to have partnered with a scientific advisory board to better understand what produces quality sleep. All of this insight has allowed the company to come up with a bed whose technology helps the user find a number or setting for the mattress to improve sleep.
Many people I know talk about their struggles with getting a good night’s sleep. Apparently, this was a problem for the psalmist, too, so getting quality sleep does not seem to be a particularly modern problem. The psalmist didn’t have a sleep-number bed but did figure out how to get a peaceful night of sleep.
Anxiety and stress
Many things can interfere with sleep, but a primary issue for many of us has to do with anxiety and stress. When our minds are filled with unresolved issues and fear, restlessness can settle so deeply that we have trouble realizing we may not actually be the ones who can solve the struggles of our lives. But for many of us, that doesn’t keep us from trying!
Apparently, David was feeling some desperation when he wrote Psalm 4. His opening lines to God were: “Answer me when I call to you!” It wasn’t a prayer filled with platitudes and praise. It was an urgent prayer that had to do with an ongoing problem with people who were set on ruining David’s reputation. These agitators wouldn’t stop telling lies about David. After a while, David was beyond frustrated and tired. He couldn’t solve his issue and he turned to the only one who could.
Truth and character
But before he tried to sleep, he did some reflecting on God’s truth and character. He remembered that God did care for him and for all who seek him. He remembered that God listens and answers prayer. He told himself that he couldn’t let his anger control his thoughts and actions. He remembered that sometimes it is best to remain silent and trust that God alone is in control of people or outcomes.
Some of our anxiety has to do with our troubled relationships. Some of our anxiety has to do with fear of adequate resources to meet our needs. I have lots of friends who love Jesus and follow him but are worried about having enough money to manage their lives in retirement. Their concern is less about having enough money for now; it is mostly concern over having enough later.
A few years ago an investment company did a campaign that asked us to pinpoint the amount of money we want for retirement. According to the campaign, we simply set the magic number and they will take care of the rest. But our struggle seems to be in determining what exactly that dollar amount needs to be to ease our anxieties.
God alone
It seems that maybe David has the resolution to our anxiety, whether it is driven by current struggles or future fear of adequate resources. According to the psalmist, it all comes down to placing our fears, our struggles, and both our current and future resource needs in the hands of God. When we do, we can lie down and sleep because we have come to accept and believe that God alone can keep us now and will keep us forever!
I don’t know what your number is, but maybe in this new year we can all start with Psalm 4 as our best number to help us sleep peacefully, trusting that God is good and good in every situation.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 4:1-8 NLT
Photo by Miriam Alonso at Pexels.com
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