I am thinking about sleep and what a gift from God it is. Now, don’t laugh. I know that my friends are rolling their eyes and thinking, “Yes, we know that you think about sleep!” 

I do enjoy sleeping and do it whenever I feel the need. This summer has been especially restful for me. I stopped doing water aerobics (3 times/week at 8:30 AM) that ended up at McDonald’s for about two hours. No practices to attend. Few doctors’ appointments, and I play Mahjongg only once a week.  

It’s been great to rise at a reasonable hour and take on the day. Of course, my reasonable hours don’t coincide with many folks. I have been like this since childhood. Oh, I would get up early as a child. We had a bus to catch. High School meant being ready for a 45-minute ride that left at 7:30AM. College was more flexible, but work life and children slapped reality back in my face. 

So, retirement and being able to sleep late or take a nap in the afternoon are true gifts from God. Sleep is wonderful example of the wisdom of God. It is during sleep that your body repairs, grows and regains energy for the upcoming day.  

For those who have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, I wish that I had a magic answer. I have had those nights, usually when I have something important going on early in the morning. They are distressing and frankly, very tiring.  

What about God and sleep? Well, we know that He rested on the seventh day of creation. Even the “all powerful” had to take time to repair and reflex. Perhaps more as an example to His creations than a reality for God himself. Jesus is found asleep in several New Testament passages with a clear message to His disciples of His human need to rest and recover from the ongoing ministry that was leading to His death.  

The Bible frequently portrays sleep as a gift from God, essential for physical restoration and spiritual peace. Psalm 127:2 states, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved,” emphasizing that human effort is insufficient without God’s provision and that sleep is a divine blessing. I am so grateful for this blessing in my life.  

The Bible teaches that sleep is not merely a physical act but a spiritual opportunity to surrender worries and rely on God. Sleep reminds humans of their limitations and encourages trust in God’s care, offering both rejuvenation and spiritual reassurance. Verses like Matthew 11:28–30 invite believers to find rest in Christ, linking physical sleep with spiritual renewal. Gregory Norbert’s beautiful hymn uses Matthew’s words as lyrics to portray this point. Listen to the hymn and know that God is always with you. 

So, it seems to me that sleep in the Bible and in our daily lives serves multiple purposes: it is a divine gift for physical restoration and a symbol of trust and peace in our God who loves you unconditionally awake or asleep. Sweet dreams!  

Terri