Friend,
You are tired, again, this morning.
You struggle to get enough sleep for many reasons, but this time you went to bed at the right time, didn’t have caffeine late in the day, and no late-night snacking.
All the conditions for a good night's sleep were there, but you couldn’t fall asleep. You did all the things that you knew to do, but nothing worked. Your body and your mind were even quiet, but your spirit was uneasy.
Something disquieted your spirit, and so you laid there and laid there… and laid there. Your mind started going, and now not only is your spirit uneasy, but your mind is racing and your rage has turned inward.
Has that happened to you?
Rather it is your body (you refuse to actually lay down), your mind (you are thinking about all the things you could be doing), or your spirit (something has you uneasy) that prevents you from sleeping, the need is the same: to surrender.
Sleep is surrender. It is our regular discipline to acknowledge that we have limits and that we can’t solve everything right now.
Jewish parents during Jesus’ years were known to say Psalm 31:5 as they tucked their children into bed for the night, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
It was their daily reminder that our safety, security, and trust are in our God who loves us. Even and especially if it has been a difficult day, we need that reminder, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
This is Holy Week, and on Friday we remember Jesus’ death on the cross when he surrendered to the Great Sleep, and what were a few of his last words,
“Into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
And so, my friend, if you are having trouble sleeping tonight, then I invite you to pray these words of trust and surrender.
Love,
Aaron
P.S. If you have been thinking about becoming a full subscriber, this is a great week to do it. I’ll have my Friday post, “Red Letters to a Weary Soul” and my month-end post, “What I’m Learning” coming out this week. Click the button below to modify your subscription.