In Heavenly Peace...

 On this chilly, Arctic winter night, my thoughts wander to all the sleepless ones around the world... and maybe it's you. You know... the stressed out, worn-out, hurting souls that just feel like everything tranquil is evading them. Lying wide-eyed in bed, their thoughts race and their heart thumps and their bodies struggle to hold it all because they feel like they're supposed to hold it all. Like the success or failure of the world rests on them. And they worry they can't keep up. measure up. shape up. 

In my mind, I can see them all...because at times, that's been me. Me before I knew better. Me before I understood the value of trusting God. Me before I finally got it that I wasn't meant to carry the weight I thought I was obligated to. Me before I learned the importance of letting go. I haven't forgotten what that me felt like and as a result, I see and hear and know what all those anxious ones out there are feeling tonight. 

Perhaps it's coming out in the form of a late-night drink, some midnight internet browsing or shopping, a quick smoke of a cigarette or cigar, some pacing the floors, some tossing and turning in the bed, or just some long thinking. Whatever it looks like, calm seems impossible. There are too many problems to work out, too many issues to solve, too many things to process. 

Let the mind forget even for a minute that Heaven rules and all the things will instead rule you and you'll give yourself over to the demanding distractions and responsibilities and disturbances and disruptions that consume your every-day and you'll lose sight of the one thing you're asked to do in this life: trust.

The experts talk about the importance of sleep - that it's valuable for many things and deep down, we know this. But sometimes life gets so big and heavy that sleep seems like an evasive guest. And most of us have no idea just how much what we're doing in our daily life is actually hindering real rest from even happening... hurting our chances of making ourselves receptive to the benefits of recuperative restoration in the form of some zzz's. 

They say that a solid eight hours of sleep is optimal and that adequate rest is paramount to cognitive function, better  mental health, lower stress levels, immunity and viral resistance, and heart disease...among many other things. 

Ah...yes... heart dis-ease. Distress of the center of all affections. Disturbance of the natural rhythm of the soul. Distraction from the Object of our attention. Then isn't it all, at the very basic level, a question of faith? 

Sitting here as darkness hangs low in these northern parts, I realize that it all comes down to how much we believe God. How big we believe our God really is. Because we're all prone to making Him out to be less powerful, less sovereign, less good, less loving, less forgiving than He actually is. And when He decreases and life increases and self increases, then fear increases because we're suddenly trying to be God when all God wants is to be Himself for us. And peace becomes far-fetched. absent. distant. 

"Sleep in heavenly peace" isn't just some nice sentiment of a Christmas carol - it's actually a heavenly directive to let God be in charge. To put your head on the pillow and know that "He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4). That you can "lie down and sleep in peace," for He alone "makes you dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8). The One whose "eyes behold all the earth and give strength to shed who, with a perfect heart, trust in Him" (2 Chron. 16:9) hasn't left His throne or taken His gaze off of you and your problems. The Lord already knows about the things that are on your mind before you ever think them or know what they are. So why would you even for a moment feel as though you have to carry it all like some Atlas on your own quivering shoulders?! 

This night, wherever you are - and for whatever reason sleep is not coming to you - God is saying what He's always said: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). 

His peace. Heavenly peace. Peace nothing and nowhere anywhere else can offer you. Stressing out about the stuff you can't control isn't going to ease your mind but giving it over to God will. Instead of trying to figure it all out and solve it yourself, try asking God about it. Go to the Word of God about it. Because at the end of the day, history has shown - and He personally has shown - that He. can. be. trusted. That Heaven is in charge. Always. Without question. 

And so this evening, I say to you, "sleep in heavenly peace." Lay your weary self down. Put your arms at your side as you lie there and take some deep, slow breaths. Calm your heart-rate. Slow your mind. Tell yourself that, because God is running things, you don't have to. It's okay to let go and give it over to Him. Snuggle under your warm blankets and hear the quiet of night around you say, "here, in this unknown, I can expect to meet God. To see Him work for me. To feel Him move in me." 

Get some rest now, friend. 

Remember, peace He gives. 

Receive that peace for yourself tonight because its ready in abundance for the taking.