After Midnight

Do you sometimes have sleepless nights? Oh, I don’t mean totally sleepless, but rather a couple hours in the middle of the sleep cycle when you are lying in bed and the ceiling catches your eye–for the next hour or so! That would be me tonight. As I write this, it is 4:00 AM and I decided to get out of bed and DO SOMETHING rather than just lie there. I have some muffins in the oven as I write.

This used to happen to me A LOT. It sometimes makes for a tired tomorrow when the night before isn’t going so well.

I don’t even have to have a worry or a woe…sometimes I just cannot sleep after being asleep for a few hours.

Sleep is amazing when it works well. God designed the body to push hard all day long and then to have quiet restorative time at night. It’s a perfect balance when functioning well. Our eyes close and our heart rate slows and the body rests as needed to prepare for a new day to come. It is kind of a waiting period in anticipation of morning.

This is all reminiscent of Biblical times when waiting was needed in order to be refreshed. Adam and Eve waited for God to reveal to them their new way of living after their fall. Noah and company waited patiently on the ark for a new day. Mary waited patiently for the birth of her baby king and the disciples waited for the resurrection of their beloved teacher. As these events of slumbering and waiting offered respite and renewal, so does our sleep cycle.

So when sleeplessness comes, what might God have us do? Breathe deeply, pray and find some gentle renewing time. Easier said than done, right? Definitely worth a try.

I better go check on the muffins and then go back to bed. Tomorrow will have demands of its own and I want to be ready!