How To Sleep Peacefully
How many of you struggle to fall asleep at night? Maybe you are on a weird sleep schedule, not feeling well physically, or maybe you can’t find a way to turn your brain off. Whatever it is, it can be frustrating to not fall asleep easily.
I used to struggle with this a lot. For me, I would fear having bad dreams. As a child, I would get sleep paralysis a lot. I still get that to this day, but it’s once in a blue moon. I also struggle to sleep at times because of the pain I’m experiencing that day.
What’s helped me overcome lying there wide awake is two things: a specific verse, and a visual.
I’ll share the visual first. Imagine you have a shoebox underneath your bed. While you’re lying down in bed, imagine every thought you are thinking physically floating out of your brain and into this shoebox. Once all of your thoughts are in the box, close the lid and push the shoebox back under your bed. Remember, your thoughts will always be there tomorrow, but right now, you need rest. This works for me even during the day when my thoughts overwhelm me, and I just want my brain to be still and quiet.
The verse that has helped me is Psalm 4:8.
“In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
This verse is so powerful to me. I know that I can read this and believe that I will not only fall asleep, but I will fall asleep peacefully. I also know that the Lord Himself will keep me safe.
If you struggle to fall asleep, write this verse down on a sticky note or index card and keep it on your nightstand. As often as you need, read this verse and believe that God will help you truly rest each night.
The last thing that I want to mention is prayer. When I wake up in the middle of the night and I’m scared or overwhelmed, I pray. Sometimes I even put soft worship music on my phone and turn the volume down really low. This helps me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus and relax!
Remember to give yourself grace if you’re struggling with rest. We all go through these seasons and God knows exactly what’s keeping you up at night. Just know that He is always with you, every second of every day, and He alone will keep you safe and help you fall asleep peacefully.
Journal Prompt:
What do you think keeps you up at night? Which of these tips can you try to implement to help you find better rest?
Ref: Matthew 11:28, Proverbs 3:24
