When You Can’t Sleep (and Giveaway!)
With the lights off and a quiet house I rested my tired head on the pillow. I longed for sleep, but my eyes stayed wide open. I couldn’t shake the news that came a few hours earlier – or the lengthy work list it brought with it.
After a sweet family dinner and prayers of thanks for another football season, Luke and I tucked our then-three munchkins into bed. Luke lingered with the kids while I walked back to the kitchen to tackle a sink overflowing with dishes. That’s when I heard the phone ring. Someone from Luke’s work. Why would they be calling this late?
Moments later, on the phone with an official from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Luke mouthed the word “traded” to me. And the whirlwind began. Our new team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, wanted Luke there by 8 a.m. the very next morning. After a quick brainstorming session we decided the whole family should go, since Luke would be knee-deep in work and someone had to take care of the rest of the details.
We packed late into the night and prepared to leave home before sunrise. When I finally dropped into bed, I set my alarm to scream at me just a few short hours later. As I lie there, a text message interrupted my racing thoughts. My friend, who happened to be up at that hour, checking to see if I was okay.
I wrote her a short message to say I’m trying to sleep but can’t stop thinking about everything I still need to do. And the words she wrote back have stuck with me for almost a decade now,
“God’s up. You don’t have to be.”
Just last night her words rang in my ears when a thunderstorm rattled me from my sleep. As I watched the tree leaves shake outside the window and diligently updated my weather channel app, I felt God’s gentle nudge on my shoulder reminding me,
{ I } will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.” Psalm 121:3 (HCSB)
This truth, my friend, is a game changer – a life changer. I’ll tell you, it’s saved me a lot of sleepless nights over the years. And as one who’s done it both ways – up with my problems or asleep with God’s protection – the latter is always better. I’ve found that my alertness doesn’t change the extent of my problems.
Awake or asleep my problem remains. Awake or asleep God’s protection reigns.
I pray you’re well rested and ready for God’s plan today, but if you’re not, I pray we all take a dose of this truth before bed tonight!
God’s up. You don’t have to be.
Today is the final day of my May giveaway. To enter to win this beautiful reminder of God’s blessing, Leave a comment by Friday, May 29 and tell me one way you are blessed!
And a special thank you to Meagan at Ancient Verse for all of the amazing gifts she’s given to my readers this month.
Thanks for the reminder Katy! I have a lot of things right now trying to keep me up at night. Such a great reminder of the truth, that God is always up, so I don’t need to be!
I am blessed…..I can’t pick just one. I am blessed to survive ovarian cancer and then against the odds birth two healthy beautiful children while nearing 40, blessed with the Word, with wisdom, knowledge and understanding after seeking God’s will in the Word, blessed to be a stay-at-home mom, blessed for my son of 6 years accepting Christ, blessed my husband is a Christian, blessed to have, blessed to give, blessed to love. I am blessed.
Katy,
I just found your post from Purposeful Faith. My goodness, I didn’t think anyone moved as much as my husband and I. We have been married for 10 1/2 years and we’ve moved 10 times across 3 states for work (federal government). Of course we are not hauling young kiddos with us. Our daughter is an adult now. I can almost feel your exhaustion setting in, 😉
I was up praying until late last night. I find this a very quiet time and often get lost in deep thought with God. I love your words here: God is up, you don’t have to be.
Great to meet you.
Thanks for this reminder. I am blessed that “God is up” as my husband’s job is up in the air and he has no other open options and so has to stick it out until the very end, however that end may come about. High anxiety, we are blessed by our knowing that God is in all of this….and often takes us right to the edge – but He always comes through.
Thank you Katy! This one will stick with me. I am blessed to have a wonderful family who supports me through my difficulties. Recently diagnosed with PTSD and mild bi polar I have feared losing my mind this past year,had to leave my job but am now blessed to be able to stay home and heal. We had a litter of pups this weekend (my new stay at home job raising German shepherds) and one pup was born with a club foot. My 9 year old daughter promptly named him Joshua after the little crippled lamb who warmed baby Jesus with his fleece. Made me cry. My precious daughter is such a lover of the lord and reminds me that the word is the answer to all the questions.
I’m blessed with two sons. My husband passed away at a relatively young age, but the blessings of our sons kept me going. I am reminded every day of the joy they gave and continue to give. They are the most intimate connection I have with my husband’s legacy.
I am blessed by God’s provision. As I am quitting my full time job to begin seminary God is continuously providing. Any time I begin to get anxious about the unknown of the next 2 years I am reminded that God is in complete control and that He is my provider. He would never call me to a place and leave me alone, yet He is there with me every step of the way. I am excited about the future and holding on to Proverbs 16:9 “For the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”