Sweet Sleep 睡得香甜
Dexu Xia
When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24
When my friend Floss lies awake at night, she thinks about the lyrics of the hymn “My Jesus I Love Thee.” She calls it her “middle-of-the-night” song because it helps her to remember God’s promises and the many reasons she loves Him.
Sleep is a necessary—but sometimes elusive—part of life. At times we may sense the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing unconfessed sin to our mind. Or we begin worrying about our job, our relationships, our finances, our health, or our children. Soon a full-scale dystopian future starts running on a loop in our brain. We assume we nodded off for a bit, but when we look at the clock, we realize it’s been only moments since we last checked.
In Proverbs 3:19–24, King Solomon suggested that we can receive sleep benefits when we embrace God’s wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. In fact, he claimed, “They will be life for you . . . . When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet” (vv. 22, 24).
Maybe we all need a “middle-of-the-night” song, prayer, or Bible verse to softly whisper to help us shift our jumbled-up thoughts to a mind fully focused on God and His character. A clear conscience and a heart full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness and love can bring us sleep that’s sweet.
How might turning to God when you can’t sleep give you peace? What song, prayer, or Scripture can you meditate on to help you focus on God?
Dear God, thank You for loving me. Help me to focus on Your faithfulness instead of the worries of this life.
你躺下，必不惧怕；你躺卧，睡得香甜。—箴言3章24节
我的朋友洛思深夜睡不着时，常会默想圣诗《主耶稣，我爱祢》的歌词，并将这首诗歌称为她的“午夜之歌”。因为这能帮助她想起上帝的应许，以及她爱主的许多理由。
睡眠是生活中不可或缺的，但有时想睡也睡不着。有些时候，我们会察觉到圣灵在心中提醒我们那些未认的罪；有些时候，我们开始担心工作、人际关系、财务、健康或孩子。很快地，我们的脑子里尽是挥之不去的惨淡未来。我们常以为自己已经睡了好一阵子，但一看时钟，才发现与前一次看时钟的时间根本没隔多久。
在箴言3章19-24节，所罗门王指出，当我们拥有上帝所赐的智慧、知识和谋略时，就能得到睡眠带来的益处。事实上，他还宣称：“它们必使你的生命有活力，⋯⋯你躺下，必不惧怕；你躺卧，睡得香甜。”（22、24节，和合本修订版）
或许，我们每个人都需要借一首“午夜之歌”，一个祷告，或一段经文，来帮助我们摆脱混乱的思绪，完全专注于上帝和祂的特质。对人对事问心无愧，并因上帝的信实与慈爱而心中充满感恩，都能使我们睡得香甜！
当你无法入睡时，转向上帝能如何平静你心？
默想哪些诗歌、祷文或经文，
能帮助你专注于上帝？
求祢帮助我专注于祢的信实，而不是今生的忧虑