“My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word” (Psalm 119:148).
Dear Praying Friends:
It seems that half the people I know suffer from lack of sleep. Actually, as I learned from the Internet just now, about one-third of Americans experience occasional insomnia, while about 12% suffer chronic sleeplessness. Insomnia affects more women than men and becomes increasingly common as we get older.
For me, it’s a nightly occurrence, lasting one to three hours, usually between about 2:00 and 5:00 AM. Following medical advice, I no longer just lie there, hoping I’ll fall back to sleep. Instead, I pray for people and read (or listen to) the Bible. As my list of insomniac acquaintances keeps growing, I include them in my prayers. So, I use the time well.
But I am still very frustrated, tired, and often discouraged, as I am today. I want – and feel I need – energy to work and to exercise. Why won’t God give me what it takes to fulfill the ministry he’s given me? I’m pretty unhappy about this!
Well, there are at least three possible “answers” to these questions. First, as Christ promised Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, his grace is sufficient for me. Second, as I keep telling people, intercessory prayer is my primary form of ministry, and this seems to be the only time that God can quiet me enough to do that most important work.
Finally, as we see in all the psalms, Jesus knows. He, too, stayed awake while others rested. Unlike us, however, he did this intentionally, so that he could meditate on God’s Word or engage in uninterrupted prayer. And he did it for us, while we slumbered and slept, largely oblivious to our extreme spiritual danger (see Matthew 26:36-46).
“We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
Yours in his constant, watchful care,
Wright