Psalm 4:8  
In peace I will lie down and sleep, 
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (NLT)

At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, GOD, have put my life back together. (The Message)

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This past week has made sound sleep a challenge. Other people’s conflicts, tragic loss, and a colonoscopy can really mess up your rest routine. Toss into the mix two early morning doctor visits. Less rest; more stress.

The Lectio 365 app reminds me of this verse every evening I listen to its bedtime meditation. These words last night made me yawn with delight. I did lie down and sleep in peace. I slept very well until our Black Dog had a bad dream around 5:30. Oh well. I needed to get up anyway. 

It’s truer than true that I am looking forward to another opportunity to lie down and sleep in peace tonight. Sleep has become increasingly important over the last couple of years. Much is written these days about the high value of deep sleep. It’s not uncommon to hear someone say or read something that says sleep is a superpower. 

Somewhere along the way, it became cool to declare how little sleep we get. This is akin to saying how little intelligence we possess or how little love we give. It is like saying how foolish we are. Psalm 23 still says, “He makes me lie down.” 

One outstanding book on the idea of human performance tells us that if we don’t rest appropriately, our bodies will seek recovery. Systems will begin to fail. We will find ourselves in serious health crises. We will find ourselves nodding off as soon as we get still. 

God designed us for rest. He tells us to rest. He rewards us with rest.

Everyone knows Psalm 46:10, but do you know the other verses? They are filled with all kinds of threats, dangers, and activities. Right there in all the action, God says, “Be still.” And like Psalm 4:8, God says God will take care of us. 

Reverse the old saying. Amend it biblically. Say it like this: “Don’t just do something; stand there.” Better still, “Lie there and sleep peacefully.”

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I will rest as God intended so that I may begin each day peacefully refreshed.

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Our Father, thank you for the gift of sleep. Give us increasingly good sleep habits. Bless us with health benefits this provides. Amen.