My dear siblings
Sometimes circumstances around us intensify to the extent that sleep is elusive. Or, as a friend states, even when in rest mode, the mind will not rest. At those times, it’s time to hand our burdens over to God and leave it there. That’s when Today’s Holy Nougat needs to be applied to our lives and spirits.
Psalms 4:8 CEB
[8] I will lie down and fall asleep in peace because you alone, LORD, let me live in safety.
Turn it over to Jesus
This reflection is based on a personal experience of sleeplessness at a rough patch in my life.
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Led by God’s Spirit, I walked away from where I’d been working to explore an opportunity elsewhere. A door was visibly open – I had a clear promise of employment, and I didn’t hear God say no. But there was one thing …
… I didn’t know where I was going to stay, nor did I have all the details of my next steps. In short order, I found that I was accepted into a program of study, in the same area that I was promised work. It didn’t include a scholarship or accommodation. But, seeing that the employment only required the formality of interviews, and God had a track record of coming through for me, I relocated in faith.
God came through, as anticipated.
Accommodation was miraculously provided and, as promised, the denomination regional board met with me, approving my employment as an interim minister.
A month, then two passed … no one called. Not to be interim, not for chaplaincy. Not even as a youth minister. Finally, about 9 weeks in, I was invited for a pulpit supply.
Yes! Things were turning around.
Two weeks later, I still had not received the promised stipend.
Nothing came by mail.
Nothing appeared in my bank account.
I was broke and out of my comfort zone.
Close to 3 months after relocating, I began having trouble sleeping. One morning, I decided to pray about the sleeplessness, as it was affecting my studies. While praying, I asked God to cure my insomnia. God’s response was surprising. God invited me to talk about what bothered me. I didn’t think I had anything to talk about. Then God reminded me that I’d been become disquieted about the monies due to me from that one church.
At that moment, I found my voice. I told God I was due the money, that those folks were withholding from me. I told God it was my money! And they needed to give me my funds, which I had worked for. While I did not quote Scriptures about muzzling the ox (Deuteronomy 25:4), or about workmen being worthy of their hire (Luke 10:7; 1Timothy5:18); those concepts were ingrained in my psyche. In fact, I felt that failing to pay me would be a curse on them. (I’m now discovering that the Bible speaks about that in Malachi 3:5; Jeremiah 22:13 and James 5:4 in addition to teachings in Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 24). Such was the extent of my angst!
Well, God returned my testimony to me, and asked why I was upset. For, I often testified that God always provided for me – which was true. As God reminded me of that, God asked me why would that situation be any different. God showed me how God provided for me in extreme situations in the past, asking me whether I was willing to trust God in that situation.
Siblings
I had no worthwhile response to justify my angst. My worries were illogical.
Suddenly, the fatigue returned. I bid God goodnight quickly and slept more comfortably than before.
Self-Check
When have we allowed worry to get in the way of rest and faith in God?
Digging Deeper
One of the most popular comments to humans in the Bible from God’s prophets, God, God’s Spirit, and God’s Son, Y’shua was ‘fear not’. Worry is a form of fear. Choosing worry over faith is a human response. It affects us physically and spiritually. Not only can worry affect our sleep, it can result in headaches, fatigue, muscle tension, or even worse; we contend with digestive issues, cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, or cognitive decline. Our Nougat invites us to let go of fear, and embrace trust.
Whatever contributed to fear or mistrust of God can be cast away, as God still provides.
Let’s cancel poor sleep patterns due to worry by handing our concerns to God. In so doing, our sleep can once again be uninterrupted and our health can be stabilised, as we turn life’s challenges over to the One Who is able to keep us from falling.
Remember, what God cannot do, doesn’t exist.
Point to Ponder
What is our default response when Life is Lifing? Is it time to hand things over to Y’shua?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
