She is up again. It’s 2:30 am and I only fell asleep an hour earlier and then I hear it, the all too familiar cry of a sweet sweet baby girl- however, at 2:30 am she is a selfish monster with no concern for anyone else in this house but herself. Harsh? I know. But when you have a 2 1/2 year old that gets up just a few hours later, and a husband who wakes before that to work hard for his household, that cry comes and stirs my heart in a way I am not proud of.
Sometimes I hear this cry multiple times in one night and I just sink deep into the ocean of self pity. I start to convince myself that I have ‘it’ horrible and the negativity just piles on… Really, its a hard place to be and an even harder place to get out of- like a mental quicksand of ‘woes’ that loves to suck me right in!
Then it starts. The spiral downward. Being that tired just does something to you. It does something to your judgment. When I am too tired, I am also too sensitive. I hear, feel, and say things all wrong. Unfortunately, the ones that get the brunt of it, are usually the ones that live within these four walls.
Desperate for sleep and hurt for hurting the ones I love, this cycle can be a damaging one. Can you relate? Maybe you aren’t tired because a teething infant is keeping you awake, maybe you are tired because something else is: a wayward child whose well-being you fear, a spouse whose loyalty you question, or bills with deadlines you can’t meet… Maybe it’s another stress like a strained relationship you just can’t mend, your health or the health of a loved one? Stress can tax our minds in many forms and the result can be mentally and physically damaging.
What can change? I can’t entirely change my circumstances at this time {although I often try very hard to do so} but I can surrender my emotions and my efforts to fight this sleepless cycle. My daughter will cry another night. I will lack sleep because of it. What I do not have to do is allow my emotions to start a circus in my mind. I can be a bit more wise before I open the door to chaos, and rather than agree with ‘woe is me,‘ I can instead slam the door with a confident ‘ABLE IS HE!’WE WERE NEVER MADE TO PROCESS
THE AMOUNT OF STRESS WE ARE FACED WITH DAILY… HE WAS.
God is aware of our heart’s predicament. He is fully a part of what it is that is keeping our minds active and hearts racing at an hour that is meant for our rest. We do ourselves a disservice by allowing the initial thought to start processing. The best reaction we can have is to surrender our thoughts immediately and instead replace them with TRUTH. Speak words to yourself that will surely combat thoughts of negativity and worry.
Recall His Promise and let it start to saturate your heart:
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Believe Him for this promise to you.
While you are lying there tell yourself combat thoughts!HE IS ABLE. JESUS IS ABLE. HOLY SPIRIT BE MY REST RIGHT NOW.
then wait…
Allow Him the opportunity to work in the situation that is keeping you up at night. These combat words are TRUTH and fight those thoughts of worry that ain’t no good for anyone! He WANTS you to rest. Cling to this verse,
Psalm 63:6-8
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
Point to Ponder: LET HIM STAY UP WITH YOUR THOUGHTS, WHILE YOU REST IN HIS.
This article was originally posted by Josie Valley on Minutes Matter.
