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**Friend, if you occasionally struggle with anxiety that keeps you from sleeping, Scripture is a great help in settling your heart. We also understand that there are times when a professional may need to step in and provide medication or therapy to get you pointed in the right direction. Please always consult your physician if you feel like your sleeplessness or anxiety is something more than your grief.

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Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27 (ESV)

Dear Sister along our tough journey: Are you reading this at two in the morning, wide awake and jarred by obsessive thoughts that carry you further and further from sleep?

I have an idea, Sister.

Something that worked for me is knowing what anxiety is, turning it over to the God of the universe, and letting Him coddle you back to sleep.

Anxiety

I imagine anxious thoughts like the enemy dragging me away. That’s when I cannot sleep! I’m trapped in those thoughts! Is that where you are right now? Remember, right now—that the Lord is mindful of these thoughts and your trap.

Because, Sisters, it is a trap. The Lord commands you—Do Not Fear! Therefore, no matter what is going on that’s causing these thoughts—He wants you to trust Him and stop fearing. No matter what the outcome is, He is in control, and He knows what is best for you, for your children, and for everyone involved. To the very end—the end being eternity in Heaven! Do you not believe that He will bring you through an incredible journey of purpose here on earth and then into rest and eternal joy in His presence? You may have pain and suffering here, but anxiety and fear are not the pain and suffering He allows—it’s your choice! You can endure—you can have peace!

Trust Him!

Usually, when anxious thoughts bind me, I can cast them out by remembering that every anxious thought is based on a lie. If I’m anxious because I’m alone, that’s a lie. I can have real unity with my Heavenly Father, which will give me a far stronger identity than I ever had as a wife. I am not alone!

The God of the Universe

Who is Jesus? In Revelations, we are told Jesus will return with armies of angels beside him, with the name written on his robe “King of Kings”. There is no authority greater than Jesus. He rules it all—including the angels who watch over us.

For he will command his angels concerning you.
Psalm 91:11 (ESV)

He’s also going to be the complete light in Heaven.

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”
Rev 21:23 (ESV)

Think about it—in Heaven you won’t need a sun! You won’t need a light bulb! Jesus will be the light—everywhere. He’ll be such a complete light that there will be no shadows! Imagine standing in Heaven and seeing no shadow! He is light!

Now think about His light—Jesus’s face, shining right on you as you’re trying to sleep in your home, right now. Jesus can control evil—stop it from hurting or scaring you.

John 14:27 (above) reminds us that Christ is peace. Jesus tells us that over and over:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Do you get overwhelmed? Do you feel alone in this vast universe now that you’re not connected to a husband? I do sometimes, and it is that very thought of having to be alone in this universe that can keep me up at night.

Peace

God knows EVERYTHING! Nothing passes His attention, and don’t you think for a moment, dear Sister, that your loss, and your anxious thoughts right now, are unimportant to Him. They are. And you are! (Matthew 10:29-31)

Sisters, there is power in speaking the goodness of God’s name continually! Just look at the Psalms written by David. No matter what strife he was under, he continually praised God and trusted God! You can too, and the more you focus on His goodness and His will, the more easily He will lead you out of the mire of despondency and into His light! That sounds easier said than done, so I’ve taken a prayerful song of sleep to help our discussion. It’s a beautiful lullaby, Jesus, King of Angels, by Fernando Ortega.

Lord Jesus, show my sisters how You are there and how You have their lives completely protected so that they can rest at night. May this song You inspired be a blessing to them and soothe their grieving hearts.