Peaceful Sleep

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.  (Psalm 4:8 ESV)

 

Psalm 4:8 is a memory verse that is a part of the Barbara’s Place curriculum.  The women often come to us saying, “I can’t sleep” or “I won’t be able to sleep without medicine.”  It is within the first couple of days that most new residents of Barbara’ s Place start sleeping through the night, and not long after sleeping so deeply that they don’t wake up quickly.  You might be a little like them; I know I am.  In times of confusion and pain, sleep does not come easily.  For me, it may be when I have a “big” decision to make, or have just made a big decision, that I can’t sleep.

Psalm 4:8 indicates that this Psalm is an evening prayer. It is a prayer that helps us focus on who is our sleep helper.

David wrote Psalm 4 at a time of great suffering, injustice, and oppression.  The Psalm teaches us the process of lying down to rest.  He settles down via the road of prayer and trust in God.

He prays for preservation (4:1); He recalls the difference between his enemies and himself – He walks with God and God listens to him, and that brings him joy (4:2-7), which brings David to a place of peace.  He concludes that it is God and nothing else that brings peace. He can claim it upon the promise of blessing in Numbers 6:24-26:

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

David can sleep well at night, even in distressing times and surrounded by the ungodly. He sleeps well because his safety is from the LORD, not from circumstances or feelings.

This Psalm could be about a man tormented by what his enemies say about him and his absence of peace, safety and sleep.  Instead, it is about a man who trusts in the LORD.  He has a joy that the world can’t take away, no matter what circumstances he faces.

Another Scripture we just finished memorizing is Matthew 11:28-30.  It reminds us that the LORD gives a rest from life’s burdens and struggles in a way far different from the world and that He invites us to receive that rest.  Do you need that rest?  There is a way to find it.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30  MSG).

 

Written by Lynne Jahns. Lynne is currently the Director of Barbara’s Place, the addiction recovery for women at America’s Keswick.

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Think About This: “As the excellence of steel is strength, and the excellence of art is beauty, so the excellence of mankind is moral character.” – A.W. Tozer

The Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 37-41 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: I, therefore, the prisoner ^[a]of the Lord, ^[b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.