It’s the middle of the night and every breathing creature is asleep in my house…except me. I’m wide awake listening to the husband, son, and dog snore. I drink some tea, read a chapter, count some sheep, take a warm shower, pop a melatonin, and continue to toss and turn. A true insomnia moment.
Rather than continue to fight sleep, I get up and start something productive.
It’s the middle of the night and I’m doing dishes, laundry, or blog writing. On the nights I can’t sleep, I figure that I might as well cross items off my “to do list” rather than lay in bed getting mad I’m not sleeping.
How often am I fighting God’s direction for my life, just like I tend to fight sleep?
The truth is, that I likely fight Him more than I recognize. It’s so easy to question God…“Are you sure that’s what you need me to do?” or “What if I do xyz?” or “Why don’t we try blah-blah-blah?” Always questioning and always fighting His direction.
What If I just got up and started being productive instead of lying there questioning and getting frustrated?!?!?!
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) states that we should, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
If in a scenario where I can’t sleep, I’m willing to do all types of different tips to get to sleep, why would I also do things to draw closer to God?
Instead of questioning His guidance in making my path straight, I could confer with God in prayer, read the Bible, meditate, journal, or sing worship music. Any of those tips would be more productive than my natural tendency to question God in frustration. I could just get up and become more productive.
Regardless of sleeplessness or challenging the Lord, I know the most effective methods of not getting angry in the situation. Now I just have to utilize them.
Happy sleeping this week!
~Emily
Iron Porch 