Sleep is part of our faith

Charlotte Brontë wrote: “a ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.” Indeed! Upset people don’t sleep well. Worry, anger and fear are sleep thieves. Paul writes in the letter to the Ephesians that we should never allow the sun to set over our anger. Said differently, we should never go to bed angry. It causes restless sleep. Or even no sleep. We should also not sleep too little. Eight hours per day is exactly the right dose. People who consistently sleep less, expose themselves to serious health issues. Perhaps we shouldn’t only set an alarm to wake up each morning, but also one to go to bed every night. Healthy sleep routines should be part of our normal faith disciplines. When we pack up our work long before bed-time and wind down properly, we illustrate something about our faith in the Lord. He made us for regular rest. We are not human robots. Psalm 127 says that God gives His people all they need in their sleep. He is the Lord who never sleeps. He cares for us, even when we sleep. Believe it and sleep more and better.