“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” – Psalm 127:1-2
Restless Nights Wrestling with God
Have you ever found yourself up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep? Do all of the usual remedies for your restlessness seem to fall short? In those moments, it feels like all we can do is plead to God.
But sometimes it seems like these prayers go unanswered.
And if that’s been your experience, maybe you’ve begun to wonder if God won’t let you sleep.
Years of Sleepless Nights
I’ve struggled with sleep for as long as I can remember. When I was a young child, I would wake up in the middle of the night with sleep paralysis. If you’re not sure what that is, I’m genuinely happy for you.
In short, sleep paralysis happens when your brain gets caught between waking and sleeping. Your eyes open as though you’re awake––able to see the room around you––but your brain continues to map out dream-like (read: nightmare-ish) visuals on top of it. And what’s worse, your body doesn’t get the memo that you’re awake. Which means you’re left there, paralyzed, while your mind plays tricks on you.
Sleepless Nights or Spiritual Fights?
This went on for over a decade; and all the while I thought it was a spiritual battle against demons in my room. Then one day, I learned the science behind what was happening. From there, I uncovered ways to help me keep sleep paralysis under control, rather than letting it control me.
But before I learned what was keeping me up at night, I wondered if it was God who wasn’t letting me sleep. I begged and pleaded. With each unanswered prayer, I grew increasingly worried that He was mad at me, and this was His punishment.
But Psalm 127 is an encouraging reminder that God wants to give us rest.
In this psalm, Solomon tells us that God doesn’t want our lives to be filled with aimless toiling. He doesn’t want us to push through our days, only to end them feeling tired without respite.
He wants to give us––His loved ones––deep rest.
But if God wants to give you rest, why can’t you sleep?
Why Do I Feel Like God Won’t Let Me Sleep
There are plenty of reasons we might feel like God isn’t letting us sleep. Let’s tackle some of the most common misconceptions and uncover the actual reasons we might not be able to sleep (and hopefully be on our way to a good night’s sleep).
Myth 1: He’s Mad at Me for Something I Did Wrong
Guilt for something we’ve done (or perhaps feeling like there’s something we’re unaware of that we should feel guilty for) can keep our minds racing and our hearts from slowing down enough for us to fall asleep. These anxious thoughts can be a distraction that prevents us from getting the sleep our bodies and minds need. On top of all that, now you’re beginning to wonder if God is mad at you for what you’ve done and is punishing you by keeping you up.
But God doesn’t punish His people. So what’s really going on?
Reality: He’s Convicting Me and Leading Me to Repentance
If there’s something in your life you need to seek forgiveness for, don’t delay––because it may be the next step to feeling peaceful enough to dream the night away.
If that’s the case, know that God isn’t mad at you and He isn’t punishing you. Your sin was dealt with on the cross. If there’s unrepentant sin in your life, don’t let guilt keep you up at night. Instead, embrace the conviction of the Holy Spirit, confess your sins, reconcile with anyone you’ve wronged, and find comfort in knowing you are forgiven by God.
Myth 2: I’m Failing at Life and This Is What I Deserve
I’ve started noticing people taking the idea of “what goes around, comes around” to an extreme level. It’s the notion that there’s some cosmic balancing of good and evil actions in our lives. In other words, I’ve done bad things, therefore I deserve the bad things that are happening to me.
This isn’t to say there aren’t consequences for our actions. But at the same time, we believe in a God of grace. We don’t deserve anything worthwhile in this life. Yet God chooses to bless us––not because we’ve earned it, but because He loves us.
Reality: God Is Growing Me and Wants to Teach Me Something
Instead of viewing your struggles as a result of what you deserve, look at them as an opportunity—an opportunity to ask God in the quiet of the night, Lord, what do you want to teach me right now?
In the book of 1 Samuel, we learn about Eli, a faithful man of God. He rules over Israel as the last judge and High Priest. Despite the unfaithfulness of those around him, Eli continues to listen to and obey God. He passes on this faith to Samuel, a young man he’s raised since he was a small child (read the whole story of Samuel here). In 1 Samuel 3, we read about one of Samuel’s own restless nights. Several times, Samuel hears someone call out to him. Thinking it must be Eli, he gets out of bed and goes to him, only to discover that Eli hasn’t called for him. Finally, Eli realizes that the voice Samuel’s hearing must be the Lord’s. He instructs Samuel to return to bed, listen for the voice again, and when he hears it, to respond and say, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”
Samuel wasn’t being awoken because he didn’t deserve sleep. Samuel was being awoken because God wanted to teach Him something.
Sometimes, we too may find ourselves rustling awake because God wants us to spend time with Him away from distractions and disturbances.
Instead of fighting your tiredness, try talking to God. When you’re finished sharing your heart, respond by saying, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” Then sit calmly in the quiet and listen for Him.
Myth 3: Satan Is Working Against Me
Just like I worried about the source of my sleep paralysis, it’s tempting to think that our inability to sleep is actively being caused by the enemy. Could our sleepless nights actually be spiritual fights? In some cases, it’s possible you may be facing some spiritual warfare. If you believe you’re being spiritually attacked, we encourage you to find support in a local community of faith. If you need more support, call our Pastoral Care Team at 800-525-5683.
Reality: God’s Power Is Unmatched and the Devil Doesn’t Control You
But odds are, Satan and his demons aren’t actively wreaking havoc on your sleep schedule. The enemy doesn’t have much reason to keep you awake at night. So rest easy in knowing that the enemy can’t touch you. Remember the promise of Psalm 127: God gives rest to His loved ones. Even if the enemy wants to keep you up at night, there’s nothing that can overcome God’s power. If He’s promised you rest, He will be faithful to provide it.
God’s Promise for Rest
Ask yourself what myths your mind has clung to. Take the steps to release them and replace them with truth. You belong to God. He has promised you rest. And nothing will get in the way of Him giving it to you.
