by Elizabeth Haarberg

Connecting with God When We Cannot Sleep

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

I sometimes have what most people call insomnia. Sleep is nowhere to be found. Other times I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep.

What I’ve found most of the time in those moments is God is asking me to pray for someone. Now I connect with Him and find out who is on His mind.

“In all your prayer and entreaty keep praying in the Spirit on every possible occasion. Never get tired of staying awake to pray for all God’s holy people.”
Ephesians 6:18

Sleep is precious. I love a good night’s sleep. But even more amazing than sleep is being included in God’s idea and plan. Both are good but awareness of how to respond to a situation takes practice.

“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 5:14

If we will wake up, physically and spiritually, it will draw us closer to Christ. This is the benefit we receive when we pray for someone. It blesses us.

There’s no formula for what God is asking us to do. We need to be in rhythm with Him. Relationship is the difference maker with God so we can know how to respond to where He’s leading us.

“Try to discover what the Lord wants of you,”
Ephesians 5:10

‘Insomnia’ sometimes has a deeper purpose. I would encourage you the next time you can’t sleep to ask God who He’s thinking about and what they need. Pray for that person. It’s much better than worrying about them or other things on our minds in the middle of the night. We don’t get anything accomplished through worry.

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,”
Proverbs 12:25

Worry is a weight we don’t want to carry. Pass that weight onto Jesus. Carrying our load is what He does best.

I pray for peace and joy as you lay your head on your pillow tonight.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado