The Thing that Keeps You Up at Night

Everyone in the house slept, except for me, of course. Growing up as a twin (I have a twin sister), you never quite learn to be alone. You share toys, clothes, a room … even the womb. So now as a grown-up, when my husband leaves on business my sleep sometimes goes with him.

Early in our marriage I left the television on all night. I’ve been known to keep a t-ball bat and hairspray in close reach. Trust me, I had a plan. But despite all of my tricks I usually ended up with a restless night and foggy morning.

Then one night, while I manned the home alone, a storm threatened. I stayed up checking the weather and listening for wind that seemed too strong. I mapped out the safest place to seek shelter and the fastest way to get all my babies to it.

As the night wore on I noticed the strongest storms stayed north and south of us. And after hours of fretting, the winds ceased and I shut my eyes. The following night at a baseball game all of us mothers shared our nighttime storm tracker stories. We laughed at our efforts and sunk into our chairs while we yawned.

Then my twin sister told me a different story. Her friend showed up the day after the storms with her usual smile and spring in her step. While the rest of us sat up at attention, she rested with ease. “I prayed and went to bed,” she said. Just. Like. That.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.” Psalm 63:6-8 (NLT)

King David penned these words in the wilderness, on the run from a vast army – led by his own son.

Yikes! If there were ever a moment to be up at night worrying, this would be it. Right? And David did lie awake at night, but not for the reasons we’d expect. Instead of fearing for his life or turning the events of past days over and over in his mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about God.

In her book, The Best Yes, Lysa TerKeurst writes, “You steer where you stare.” When we stare at our troubles, our hearts fill with fear, worry, stress or sin. When we stare at our God, our hearts fill with joy, peace, strength and rest. Oh boy how I want the latter!

What are you facing today? Will you stare at God and let His goodness fill your heart?