How can Scripture help you sleep better?

It’s 4.10 in the morning, and you have been awake for well over an hour. You are battling with anxious thoughts, and sleep is impossible. You have an important meeting at work later on today, and you know you won’t be up to it. You see no way out. Help!

Have you ever been there? I have. And no doubt you have found help from the word of God. I certainly have. In fact, I have three ‘friends’ who have helped me. Three Bible words:

1. migdal

‘The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe’ (Prov. 18:10).

In the Old Testament, towers were places of refuge from attack. For example, the inhabitants of Thebez locked themselves in a tower to escape from Abimelech (Judges 9:50-51). They found there a place of safety and security. Just as ‘the name of the LORD’ is for us today.

The LORD is the all-sufficient One, sufficient for all our needs. Sufficient for that meeting at work later today, sufficient for a difficult decision I need to make, sufficient for accepting a difficult medical diagnosis.

And the LORD is the faithful One. He is true to His promises. To His promise for wisdom for today, for ‘God … gives generously to all without finding fault’. To His promise for strength for today, for ‘those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength’. To His promise for grace for today, for ‘my grace is sufficient for you’.

This is your God. This is your strong tower. Run into it. Find safety there from all those anxious thoughts that are driving sleep from your grasp. In the words of Darlene Zschech: ‘My Jesus, my Saviour … tower of refuge and strength.’ And John Newton: ‘Your life is hid with Christ in God, beyond the reach of harm.’

2. shalom

(More memorable than the Greek word used here!) ‘the peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 4:7 NEB).

For several years we lived in a country where night-time watchmen guarded the homes of more affluent families. While the watchman was on duty, the people inside could sleep in peace. Marauders could not gain access.

Remember that God has stationed His watchman at the door of your heart. His peace is keeping guard. And remember what sort of peace it is. It’s the peace that the Father, the Son and the Spirit enjoy in perfect communion. Like Brighton rock, wherever you look in the Godhead, there is peace. This is the peace that is keeping guard over your heart and thoughts.

So lay your requests before God, and let His peace flood your anxious mind.

3. gibbor

‘Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle’ (Ps. 24:8).

God is a mighty warrior. Through Christ’s death on the cross, He conquered all the power of Satan, sin, death and hell. In bringing you to Himself, He triumphed over all the obstacles preventing you coming to faith. And when Christ returns, His victory over all the powers of darkness will be complete.

God always wins His battles. Let Him win this one. Trust Him to make a way through the seeming intractable problems that lie ahead. ‘Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in’ (Ps. 24:9). And, as Jamie Owens-Collins writes: ‘The battle belongs to the Lord! We sing glory, honour, power and strength to the Lord!” .

So next time sleep takes flight, remember my three friends: migdal, shalom, gibbor. Let the LORD be your strong tower. Remember that the peace of God stands guard at the door of your heart. And rest in the triumph that God the victorious warrior has won!

……zzzzz.