“It is pointless that you get up early and stay up late, eating the bread of hard labor because God gives sleep to those he loves.” Psalm 127:2, CEB
One weekend afternoon when I was tired, I decided to do something simple yet powerful: take a nap. I often resisted napping because I felt guilty resting when I could be productive. In order to make time for a nap, I had to delay something important I’d planned for that afternoon – grocery shopping for my family. I wanted to check that task off my to-do list. But I couldn’t deny that I was exhausted from a demanding work week. It was time to rest and renew my energy.
Still, those familiar guilty feelings crept up on me when I laid down. I worried whether I was falling short by not pushing myself to get the shopping done. So I prayed for peace of mind, which God graciously sent me. Then I fell asleep and awoke about two hours later feeling energized. What a gift that nap was! I had missed a task that day, but I easily made it up the next day. More importantly, the nap refreshed me so I was able to fully enjoy the weekend with my family. The quality of the entire weekend was better because I had accepted God’s gift of sleep.
In our fast-paced world, where success is often equated with ceaseless activity and tireless effort, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constant busyness. We may find ourselves striving relentlessly, pushing ourselves day and night to do more than we should so we can feel successful. Yet Psalm 127:2 tells us that there is no point in losing sleep we need to work more because our loving God gives us the gift of sleep.
God’s Word reassures us that our worth is not determined by our productivity. We are not defined by how much we accomplish or how little sleep we can manage in our schedules. We are not robots designed to work as much as possible. Instead, we are beloved children of a merciful and gracious God, whose love for us transcends any measure of our accomplishments. God has designed us to live in harmony with how he created us – and that includes the need to sleep well.
Even Jesus in his earthly ministry recognized the importance of sleep. In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus sleeps during a storm while on a boat with his disciples. Despite the chaos around him, Jesus doesn’t worry about the storm. Instead, he prioritizes his need for sleep. Jesus wakes up only when his disciples wake him up because they’re worried about the storm. Then Jesus calms the storm but challenges his disciples to have more faith.
Just as God provides for our physical needs, he also provides the rest our bodies and minds need to function optimally. This is all part of God’s design for us to live well.
So, let’s receive the sacred gift of rest that God has given us. It’s not a sign of weakness to acknowledge our need for sleep. Actually, choosing to sleep when we’re tired is an act of worship. It’s a choice that helps us trust God’s provision, rely on God’s strength, and live in harmony with his design for us.
Feeling tired sometimes is perfectly natural. We shouldn’t feel guilty about it. Instead, we should remember that God gives us permission to take a nap, go to bed early, or let ourselves sleep in late whenever we’re tired. Let’s embrace the wonderful gift of rest that God graciously offers us. While we’re sleeping, we can find valuable strength from God, who promises to sustain us well through every day and night.
Dear God, thank you for the gift of rest that you lovingly give us. In the middle of our busy days and nights, help us to remember that our worth is not found in our accomplishments but in your unconditional love for us. Please give us the wisdom to recognize when our bodies and minds are in need of rest and grant us the courage to embrace the gift of sleep without guilt. As we lay down to sleep, we choose to trust you to help us with everything that concerns us, and we receive your peace. Thank you for always being with us and giving us what we need to be well. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty/Mladen-Zivkovic
Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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