Psalm 4:8 (NIV) In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Several years ago I went through a rough patch with my health and I began to have sleep problems. After numerous trips to the doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with me I ended up in one of those sleep studies. If you’ve ever done one you know that sleep study is a bit of an oxymoron because they keep coming in your room and fooling with all of the wires and hoses so not much sleep really happens.

In the morning I heard the most troubling thing from the nurse. She said that they couldn’t actually do the test because I never actually slept. She said that I was grinding my teeth so badly that it kept me from sleeping. She then asked the most important question, “What are you stressed about?” I thought of several things starting with that sleep study, followed by all the trips to the doctor and so on.

What I arrived at through that difficult time was that the reason that I wasn’t sleeping was that I was worried about not sleeping. I was worried about my worries and I had gotten myself all worked up over nothing. The whole problem was solved with more frequent prayer and regular walks around the block and my peaceful sleep returned.

One of the greatest tests of peace in our lives is how we sleep. Sleep is a great indicator of what we carry around with us throughout the day. The real question is, “Are we trusting God with the issues that tend to give us stress or are we sort of wallowing in our problems?”

He can be trusted with whatever troubles us.

Isaiah 26:3(NIV)You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.