Sleep

Psalm 3 was written by David when he fled from his son Absalom who undermined David's authority and throne turning the hearts of the people after himself.  How hard it is to be turned on.  How especially hard when it's your own son. This had to be a dark dark time for David. He cries out to God about his enemies and the many who are coming against him. They are scary, they are vast, they are treacherous.

But David doesn't let what other people say to him stop him from reminding himself who God is to him.
Psalm 3:3–4 (ESV) But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

We need to learn who God is for us and then we need to learn how to remind ourselves who God is for us. 

Then David says in verse 4 that God answered him. How? How did God chose to care for David from this dark time?

One answer: Sleep.

Notice the next verse.

Psalm 3:5–6 (ESV) I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

I think of Elijah who ran from Jezebel. He just won a major battle and the threat of a wicked woman (who just lost 450 prophets by the fire of God at the command of Elijah) sends him running miles away. 

And just when it looks like Elijah has totally blown it, doubted God, the mission, and lost the faith...God's angel shows up and gives him food and sleep.

Sleep is a good gift from God. It's a reminder that God restores us and heals us without us trying. We go to bed and we wake up refreshed and feeling better. Who doesn't appreciate sleep. Sometimes you need to let God just put you to sleep. Sometimes the fight needs to wait till morning. Sometimes the to do list needs a more alert you!

Sleep is about letting go. It's surrendering to the fact that God runs the Universe, not you. Notice that David then speaks of God's deliverance in the later verses, "you strike all my enemies, ...you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belogns to the Lord." (Psalm 3:7-8) He has surrendered to the God who will defend and protect Him.

And though we go to sleep, God wakes us up. Eventually our bodies arise and we get to it. Better than before.

Sleep may not look super spiritual, but it can be super natural.