How We Glorify God by Sleeping

Too often when I’ve been busy, my sleep has been the first thing I cut back on. But after reading a post by David Murray on “50 Good Reasons to Sleep Longer,” wherein he lists (among others) the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual consequences of sleep deprivation, I started to reassess my attitude towards sleep.

I realized that I often view it as a luxury that needs to be sacrificed if I’m to serve God as fully as possible. I might even feel guilty when I give in to it instead of trying to do “just one more thing.” I’ve tried to force myself to live with less and less of it in an attempt to be more productive. The result is that I have, of late, seen more than a few of those “50 reasons” creeping into my day-to-day life.

Is it okay to sleep? Here’s what Jason McMartin had to say in “How Can Sleep Bring Glory to God?”

We glorify God by making known his greatness. Human sleep illuminates God’s nature by means of contrast and difference. Humans must sleep and can die if they do not. God’s sleeplessness shows his independence; our sleepfulness reveals our dependence. We cannot not sleep; God cannot sleep. God is blessed in himself, which includes his self-existence and independence. He has the source of life and joy in himself (1 Thess. 1:9; Ps. 36:9; John 1:3–4; Jer. 32:36–41; Zeph. 3:17) and is in need of nothing to possess these things. Sleep brings glory to God by showing that we are not blessed in ourselves and must receive blessing from God’s hand. If we are to possess existence, life, joy or anything at all, we must receive them from God as gifts of grace. Appropriately then, we glorify God in sleep without being able to help it. Sleep shows my creatureliness in contrast to the Almighty Creator who gives me life….

In Scripture, trust emerges as the basic theme concerning the spiritual significance of sleep…. Psalm 127 expresses trust in God for success in one’s endeavors of building a house, guarding a city and growing a family. Sleepless activity will not ensure that our efforts will be rewarded. Jesus models trust for us by sleeping in the midst of a storm (Mark 4:35–41). The Good Shepherd causes his sheep to lie down in places of abundance and security (Ez. 34:14–15; Ps. 23; Mark 6:39; John 10:1-18); submission to that guidance and provision is an expression of trust.

It’s more than okay to sleep. It’s more than okay to stop working at night, though there’s no end to what could be done for the sake of God’s kingdom. Sleeping is more than just the way God designed us to function; it’s actually a daily confession of our own limitations, our dependence on God, and our trust in Him to run the world.

We don’t just glorify God by working, we glorify Him by sleeping.

Comments

[dave]

This is very interesting. I believe that God also uses sleep to evaluate us through our dreams. I know that dreams can be a catharsis of our emotions, but aren't they also a reflection of who we are, in our response to whatever situations they present? I know that I've felt relief feeling that I did the right thing in dreams that I can remember.

[Sam Harper]

I glorified God for ten hours the other night.

I used to work as a night auditor at a hotel and had to do all my sleeping during the day. Since it was so difficult, I did a lot of reading about sleep, and after discovering all the health benefits to good sleep, I've made it a priority.

I also have to consider safety issues. I fell asleep at the wheel a couple of weekends ago, and when I woke up, I was in the other lane with on-coming traffic pulling off the road to avoid me. It was pretty scary. Since I travel so much, I have to make sleep a priority.

But besides that, I'm just a happier person when I get enough sleep. Life is just better.

[Sam Harper]

I know that dreams can be a catharsis of our emotions, but aren't they also a reflection of who we are, in our response to whatever situations they present?

I sure hope not. I've done some pretty hairy eyeballed things in my dreams.

[WorldGoneCrazy]

Amy, I'm sure a lot of other folks do this, but I actually pray throughout my "sleep." I begin my intercessory prayers right after I turn off the light, and each time I wake up, I pick them up where I left off. I'm not sure that I make any progress during the deep sleep, but I am certain that I do so in those intermediate states between deep sleep and fully awake. Sometimes, by the time I wake up, I am all the way through my prayers. Of course, it helps to be a middle-aged male who gets up a lot in the night. :-) It's also a great way to relax - takes my mind off of me and puts it on those for whom I am praying, where it belongs.

[Mo]

I have to admit, I'd never thought of this before!

[Mo]

@ Sam Harper

"I fell asleep at the wheel a couple of weekends ago, and when I woke up, I was in the other lane with on-coming traffic pulling off the road to avoid me."

Oh, goodness, I am glad you are okay!

[Marty]

Sleep is simply a gift from God. We should not neglect it or cut corners with it or we are rejecting one of God's gifts to us. Sleep offers healing, escape, rejuvination, ability to think and plan. Actually, there are more than 100 benefits of sleep in a list I refer to frequently for inspiration: http://www.sleepeasily.com/101-and-more-benefits-of-good-sleep.html

[a]

Perhaps more spiritual than what is warranted on this topic...

I view sleep as simply a means by which God is glorified by the good stewardship I demonstrate in making sure I properly take care of the body with which he has entrusted me.

"know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost...therefore glorify God in your body..."

"Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God..."

And, although sleep is important, it's one of those things that needs to be done without when warranted. This is biblical; we know that Jesus himself was one who often arose early in the morning to spend time praying. I get the sense that Jesus was one who often went short on sleep at the expense of things he deemed more important, such as spending time in prayer. At the same time, we know he slept when it was warranted and was not troubled by external circumstances, such as sleeping in the stern of the boat in the midst of the storm...