Insomnia.
It’s almost 2:30 in the morning, and I can’t sleep.
I hate when this happens.
It makes me tired the next day, and crabby. It gives me bags under my eyes. It makes me have a headache. It upsets my stomach.
But, here’s why I really hate it.
Because I’m really vulnerable late at night. The enemy is right here – I can feel him. He is busy…
Telling lies to my heart – "You’re so worthless. You’ll never amount to anything."
Planting worries in my head – "What if, what if, what if…"
Making me doubt things – "Are you sure God is really good?"
"Are you sure He's really there?"
Every single thing that has bothered me for the last week comes knocking on the door – "Excuse me, but we understand that you’re very tired. Would this be a good time to come in and pester you incessantly?"
Like a broken record, the thoughts and feelings, doubts and fears, go over and over in my mind.
Lord, I feel so alone right now – and scared.
I’ve got the TV on just to have some noise. I’ve tried talking to You, but it feels like my voice is stopping at the ceiling.
Have any of you ever had this problem?
In desperation, I open my Bible. A "Bible Pick ‘Ems" on a Wednesday night (actually, make that a very early Thursday morning…)
And here’s what I read:
"I [Nehemiah] replied, ‘There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.’ They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination." (Nehemiah 6:8-9)
Oh Lord, what a perfect word for me – right now – in this moment!
Satan, you terrible old liar, there is NO truth in any part of your story.
You are making up the whole thing.
You’re just trying to intimidate me – thinking that you can discourage me, and stop the work of the Lord.
Ah ha! NO WAY!
I will continue the work with EVEN GREATER determination!
Nehemiah prayed for strength. He showed tremendous character, and remained steadfast. He did not give in to opposition. He refused to be cowed by taunting voices.
He stood tall and firm.
I want to do the same. I WILL do the same.
God’s Word has slapped my sword back in my hand.
So, I’m going to go shut my eyes now. After all, a warrior needs her sleep.
"I lay down and slept…for the LORD was watching over me…In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe."
(Psalm 3:5 and 4:8)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Sharon are you sure you are not writing for me this week? :) The past two mornings, I've awakened in the early morning hours. The scripture you said is so appropriate. There is no truth in Satan - he is a liar and the father of all lies.
ReplyDeleteRest, dear friend - the battle is the Lords!
Blessings,
Joan
Sharon, my friend, I pray that right now, at 11:00 EST, you are blissfully asleep. I know every emotion you expressed since a sleep disorder goes hand in hand with fibro.
ReplyDeleteI've had those nights... Too many than I want to count, and I know exactly of which you speak. Tick Tock...
I love the passage that He lead you to this morning and that you shared it with us. How perfect since Nehemiah was building A WALL to protect God's children from the enemy.
God's word is my wall. I MUST remember that it is a solid one, built with his very hands.
Why I let Satan try to catapult over it or slither in through some mud he has managed to dig up, I do not know.
This is wonderful!!! I feel the need for jazz hands. We should all lift each other against the enemy trying to sneak over our wall.
Many sweet dreams and blessings Sharon... I could so relate with this struggle but also my spirit wants to pray for you... though you battled through this in this blog and ended victoriously besides sharing a great scripture from Nehemiah that Our Lord spoke to you!
ReplyDeleteThis could have been titled..."Sleepless in ... the West"... Your Word for the year "determines" that you not wrestle but rest as well. I know writing is therapeutic but it also keeps your mind racing with ideas, writing as you lay and try to sleep. At least for me...
I claimed this verse long ago and go back to repeating it when I cannot sleep and find that any verse that God gives you to memorize and you repeat brings His rest and peace:
(mine)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7
Yes, warrior sleep and be restored!
Love what both Joan and Debbie shared above!
Watch that caffeine intake and that late night arousal of your mind when you should be relaxing. Who am I do advise? I wake up about the time you were trying to fall asleep and I can't go back to sleep. So God and I have our chat and then many prayers and people come to mind and their situations. God leads me and I listen better at this time so... He knows BEST.
FATHER KNOWS BEST!!! Remember that? Such truth in these words...not so much our earthly dad as our heavenly One! (How 'bout a blog post on this?... are you up for more challenges? but there's no hurry or deadline, relax and rest)!
You just bring such inspiration! Find some beautiful adoration or instrumental soft music to lull you to sleep like a lullaby. No more enemy sneaking into our camps... Debbie told us to join hands so we will and united strength cast him out...
Look what I found an actual BLOG
THE CURE FOR INSOMNIA You already claimed the first SLEEPY BIBLE VERSES:
"I, Sharon, lay down and slept…for the LORD was watching over me, Sharon… In peace I, Sharon will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe."
(Psalm 3:5 and 4:8)
AMEN!
BIBLE VERSES about INSOMNIA
Are you struggling with depression? (wanna share, you know where I am) and we all are here for you!
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." -Ps 42:8 (NIV)
Do you sleep well at nights? Do you bring the problems of the day to your sleep? Do your worries wake you in the middle of the night? Do you go to sleep in dread of the following day?
Are you looking for ways to cure insomnia?
It doesn't have to be this way. If we look in the Bible, we can find a cure for insomnia.
>ANSWERS FOR WOMEN SERIES (Insomnia) by Connie Larson (pdf) GREAT one!!!
Bible Verses for Sleepless Nights
Zzzzzz Please....
I think I need a nap! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Love you,
and I'll be praying Friday (part of my Lighthouse of Prayer) promise and day set aside, you will be part so if you have specifics, let me know...
Peggy
Oh Sharon- I loved your honesty here, your vulnerability, and whether we are kept up at night or not, Satan is deviously waiting to jump into our thoughts at any moment....I feel your pain,sister, but KNOW that our LORD is with you. Worry and trust go together like oil and vinegar...trust in the lord with all your heart..he loves you and is protecting you!
ReplyDeleteL
Janet
And the Whole Host of Heaven Stood Up and CHEERED!!! Hallelujah!!
ReplyDelete(I pray that you slept after writing this post:)
When I had my hysterectomy after cancer diagnosis, I was thrown headlong into menopause, and that (or the chemo, or both) meant many sleepless nights. I think one of the worst things to go through is not sleeping well. I also know that you can turn it into something good. Or rather God can if you give Him that time. Praying, yes. Praising and thanking, better. On your knees, by your bed, or walking the length of your house, whatever works best. Satan hates our praises, so I find I either fall right to sleep or I have an AMAZING TIME WITH THE LORD! Win Win!
I know it's not easy to go through, though, and I will pray it won't last. Keep us updated. I am praying for you, my dear sister!
Lots of Love,
Wendy
Oh Sharon, the last few nights I haven't slept as good as I usually do - I'm waking up just about every hour worrying about things - I know that God will take care of everything and to trust God and let go - but I am human too.
ReplyDeleteHope you sleep better tonight.
Love,
sandie
having suffered from insomnia over the years, I truly can relate, Sharon. I think it was neat that you got up and went to your Bible to see what the Lord would share with you. I often lie awake hour after hour worrying and fretting, trying to pray but finding my mind wandering, etc. I'm going to remember this, to get up and read a few words of Scripture to calm my heart and remember who really is in charge and control :)
ReplyDeletebrace yourself for the cold!
betty
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this piece. It is so "on"
for me.
I feel you, Sharon, on where you were. Our Lord's answers to you gave comfort to me.
Thank you for sharing the "remedy" from our MEDICINE MAN - OUR FATHER GOD!
Yesterday I had one of those moments where I questioned,
Lord, am I doing enough?
Should I be doing more?
Am I right with You?
Is there something else that I need to be doing?
He assured me that I was in obedience but still things concerned me a bit even after I got our Lord's assurances.
And THEN this a.m., our Lord sent me here. Now I have more confirmation that all is well with me and our Lord. Thanks to what our Lord gave you with this piece, I feel more assured.
I'm going to go and read Nehemiah 6...
Thank you, Sharon.
AND THANK YOU, GLORIOUS LORD, FOR GIVING US YOUR PEOPLE WHAT WE NEED PRECISELY WHEN WE NEED IT!
Sidebar: I will be posting 7 UPS QUIZUPS TODAY.
It will probably not continue once a week...but as our Lord leads.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteSorry I couldn't comment before, this week as been hectic. But have been thinking of you. Hope you have found some peace of mind and some restful sleep. You are so right about Satan and we must continually rebuke him and tell him we belong to Jesus. God Bless - Nita
Satan tries to attack me at night as well! Fortunately my Bible is right next to my bed! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
ReplyDeleteJoan - Oh dear, you're having some of these moments, too?? Thanks for your good words. Yes, I must always remember, the battle is the Lord's - and it's already won!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - OK, you - right back at you with snaps. Because I loved how you wrote all that imagery about the wall. (OH...how you know I love word pictures...) I will stand behind the wall that protects me - the wall of God's Word.
Peggy - Yes, those ideas sometimes come at the most inopportune times. I have a tablet next to my bed - so at least I can write them down, and get them out of my head. But I don't mind so much - the Lord seems to speak to me when I'm not quite awake. I will be checking out the links you gave me tomorrow. Tonight (Friday) I'm just sleeping early!! No worries about depression - I've had it a bit in the past, and this is different. This is a little middle age, a lot the enemy fighting God's work. I'm really good - just pooped out!!! Zzzzzz... (Hmm. So, you're issuing a challenge, too?! I'll be working on that.)
Janet - Thanks. I love how you said the enemy is deviously waiting to jump into our thoughts. You know where I've been "at" this week - and you also know that I will not quit. Just need some catch-up time. Thanks for your prayers, and for always understanding...love you.
Wendy - Thank you for your very kind thoughts. Yes, I also find that the Lord often makes a "special" appearance when I'm sleepless! It makes me tired, but I always feel like there's something He wants to say to me. It's kinda like how he woke up Samuel. I want to respond the same way, "Yes, Lord, your servant is listening."
Sandie - I'm so sorry. I hate worrying. I hate that I still do it so much. I really, truly trust the Lord. But, as you said, I'm still human. GRRRR! Hope that you get some much needed rest - a chance to breathe - and that we'll both get better with our trust muscles!!
Betty - You know, it's funny. Lately when I've gotten nervous, or worried, I keep thinking to myself, "If I can just get to my Bible, I'll be OK." It doesn't always mean that the worries disappear, but there really is a sense of calming that comes over me. It's like God's saying to me, "There, there. It's OK. I'm right here." (It's raining right now...again...)
Sandra - How I love it when the Lord speaks His word through me to someone else. I can't tell you how happy I am that this post brought assurance to you. You are right with the Lord, Sandra - and you can sleep on that!!
Nita - Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I must continually remember that I belong to God. I like the word "rebuke" - don't you? I don't think I do that enough. I forget sometimes that I can claim the authority of God, and send the enemy packing. It's God Word that Jesus used against the devil - and that's why these words from Nehemiah were so powerful for me.
Alisa - Satan seems to love darkness, even the darkness of night, to go after those of us who love the Light! Yes, praise the Lord for His Word - my Bible is right next to my bed, too. It's almost like a nightlight for me!! Thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate it.
Sleep tight, everyone - and GOD BLESS!