Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

"Can I come sleep with you and mommy?" How often have you heard these words from one of your young children? You know something has scared them and they don't want to be alone. As they get older, it may be a phone call in the middle of the night – just to talk. The fears may change over the years, but the reaction to the fears never changes. We always seek out someone we trust – someone we feel safe with. Most of the time, the mere sound of their voice will calm us and allow us to deal with whatever issue we are facing.

I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Psalm 3:5-6

In this Psalm, we find David in the position of having to leave his beloved Jerusalem – not because of some foreign army invasion, but because of an internal uprising. King David, arguably the greatest warrior of all time, is fleeing from his son. Absalom has initiated a coup and has the support of much of the army of Israel. Fearing what would happen if he stayed in Jerusalem and allowed armed conflict to break out among the people, David chose to leave. Jerusalem was more important to him than his reputation.

Verse one of this chapter says,

"O LORD, how many are my foes!
 Many are rising against me."

You can almost hear David saying, "What else can happen to me? It's not enough that I am fighting all the neighboring countries, now must I fight against my own son?" He goes on to say in the next verse, "People are talking. They don't think I will survive this attack. God won't bail him out this time." This had to be a dark time in David's life.

In the midst of all of this turmoil, David makes an incredible statement. This passage tells us that David slept every night. Think about that! Even with his own son trying to forcibly take over his reign, David says, "I am not losing sleep over it." He was not afraid, even though there were "tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side." I don't know about you, but that would make it hard for me to sleep.

America is one of the most sleep deprived nations in the world. In a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, the following points were made:

Almost 74% of all Americans do not get enough sleep each night

Most will feel sleepy or groggy during the week

51% of adults say they have problems sleeping at least a few nights each week

Almost 1/3rd have trouble sleeping every night

These reactions cause illness, stress, and lost productivity. Why can't we sleep?

The answer lies in the third and fourth verses of this Psalm. David tells us that he recognizes that his protection comes, not from anything he can do, but from God. "You are a shield around me," David writes. God is his "force field." David knows that he is protected by the power of God and nothing can penetrate that shield.

Why can't we sleep? Because we take our problems to bed with us. David knew how to handle that problem. He says, "To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill." Like a little child calling down the hallway to his daddy saying, "I can't sleep. I am afraid," David went to the one who could calm his fears and restore his confidence. His Father held him in His arms and said, "Do not be afraid. Daddy's got you."

Do you want to be able to have a peace that allows you to deal with the issues of life and still get your rest? Talk to your heavenly Father and let Him hold you while he whispers peace into your ear. That's what David did, and it worked for him.

We serve an awesome God!!!!!