Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him.
~Psalm 37:7 NKJV
A good night’s rest is vital for good health, but what if it won’t come?
For years, I’ve had an erratic sleep pattern. Though I’ve never had a sleep study performed, I attribute it to age and a spastic mind. Waking up numerous times during the night is normal. And of course, when I wake up, I must make a trip to the bathroom.
When the alarm sounds—if it does—I typically feel as if I haven’t been to bed. Most days, I supplement my restless night with a short power nap. I suppose the doctor would prescribe medication to help me sleep, but I hesitate to add another medicine to my present list. I long for the days when I slept an entire night and for the energy I had when I awoke.
Thankfully, there’s an alternate rest that has nothing to do with closing my eyes or entering into a different state of mind. The psalmist classifies it as resting in the Lord and couples it with waiting patiently on Him. This type of rest I can master.
I often associate resting and waiting with inactivity. I rest in my recliner; I wait in the doctor’s waiting room. But I’m usually not inactive while doing either. I read a book, watch television, or look at my iPhone. Resting in the Lord is similar. I rest by not being anxious. I believe He is in control, has a plan for my life, and actively works to accomplish that plan. My part is to keep doing the last thing He told me until I receive further instructions.
David, the psalmist, was familiar with this resting and waiting. God had sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him as the next king of Israel, but it was many years before he assumed the throne. In the meantime, he kept doing what he had been doing: minding the sheep.
Resting in the Lord and waiting patiently on Him also means realizing God’s timetable is often different than ours. What seems like an eternity to us may only be seconds in God’s mind. His timing involves our readiness, and sometimes it takes a long time for us to prepare for what He has in store.
Let God teach you how to enjoy the best rest—whether you sleep well at night or not.
-Photo by Dean McQuade on Unsplash
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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