Biblical Understanding of Sleep
Here is a story of someone who was comforted by being reminded of God’s sovereignty. His name was Bulstrode Whitelock, and he was an envoy of Oliver Cromwell to Sweden in 1653. He was resting at the village of Harwich the night before he was to sail to Sweden, and he was so distracted by the perilous state of England that he could not sleep. He had a servant who was accompanying him, and this man, discovering that Whitelock could not sleep, said, “Sir, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” said Whitelock.
“Pray, sir, do you think God governed the world very well before you came into it?” he asked.
“Certainly.”
“And do you think he will govern it quite as well when you are gone out of it?” he continued.
“Undoubtedly.”
“Then pray, sir, excuse me, but do you not think that you may trust him to govern it quite as well while you are living?”
Whitelock had no answer to this question. But he rolled over quietly in his bed and was soon asleep.
Psalms
Psalm 97
Psalm 97
This quote, while making me aware of the sinfulness and pride that often accompany my sleepless anxiety, reminds me of another helpful resource on the topic that has served me well in the past: C.J. Mahaney's sermon on A Biblical Understanding of Sleep. Highly recommended.
