The Sleep of the Beloved
by Elizabeth Turnage
TODAY’S TREASURE
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2, ES
The tossing and turning of insomnia may insinuate itself along with crisis, leaving us longing for rest. My insomnia began when I was twelve and has never really given way to easy sleep. After a bicycle crash in which I shattered my elbow in twenty-five-ish places, I was placed in traction for three weeks and given narcotics to ease the pain. During this same season, a school friend died in a freak accident. Once I was released from the hospital, still wearing a cast on my arm, sleep stubbornly refused to come. Night after night, I lay awake, following the shadows cast by lights from a nearby convenience store, aroused by the noises of people coming and going.
Many nights I’ve passed since then, awake, praying, begging God to help me fall asleep. I must confess, in the weak moments of shadowy nights, I’ve occasionally wondered, “Does it mean that I am not one of his beloved, since he does not give me sleep?” I must also confess, though, that the Lord has never let me go an entire night without sleep.
What God does give, and what Psalm 127 invites us to, is rest. Not only does he give it; he commands it (Exodus 20:8-11), because we need it. When we have suffered from danger and trauma, we need more than ever to heed the Lord’s invitation to rest. In seasons of recovery, we can become anxious and hyper-vigilant as we strive to restore order. The Psalms remind us of our reason to rest—our God is a mighty guard watching over us and keeping us:
The Lord who built the house (and created us) watches over the city and its people—us (Psalm 127:1). The Lord is our “keeper,” (Psalm 121:5), that is, someone who “exercise(s) great care over.”[2] He keeps us from “all evil,” keeps “our life,” and keeps our “going out and our coming in” (Psalm 121:7-8). He keeps us “from this time forth and forevermore.” And even when we can’t sleep, we have good company: “Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 127:4).
One day, our anxious toil will give way to the full rest of restoration: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52). As for me, I don’t know if there will be sleep in heaven, but I like to think so. I do know—in that day, the Father who keeps me will grant me rest even sweeter than the deepest sleep.
Prayer
Lord, our Creator and Keeper, thank you for watching over us, for relieving us of any reason for anxiety. Help those of us who struggle to sleep; show us your watchful and protective presence. Most of all, help us to rest and trust in your kind and strong keeping.
Further Encouragement
Read Psalms 121:1-8; 127:1-5; 131.
Listen to “Sleepless Night” by Fernando Ortega.
Reflection
When you struggle to sleep or rest, how does it help to know that the Lord is watching and keeping you?
Excerpt from Recovery to Restoration: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace and Hope in Crisis, by Elizabeth Turnage; used with permission
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[1] שָׁמַר (šāmar) in R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 939
[2] שָׁמַר (šāmar) in R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 939.
Elizabeth Turnage, writer, story coach, teacher, and the founder of Living Story ministries (www.elizabethturnage.com). She is passionate about helping people learn, live, and love in God’s story of grace. A blogger and the author of three Bible studies published by P&R Publishing, she is a popular conference and retreat speaker. Elizabeth is married to an orthopedic surgeon, Kip Turnage, and they have four adult children, plus three added by marriage. They are also the devoted “parents” of their personal therapy dog, Rosie.
Elizabeth Turnage, author of: The Waiting Room and From Recovery to Restoration
Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness and co-author of Treasures of Faith. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.