Sleepless in Owasso
It was one of those nights where my boys and I could not go to sleep. During the break we enjoyed the schedule of staying up really late into the early hours of the morning and sleeping in until about lunchtime. We are the definition of night owls. When it was time to adjust our schedules back into the routine, we had a hard time. I love snuggling with my kids at bedtime. I remember when they were babies how they would fight sleep even though they were so tired. Sleeping is something I can’t make them do. I can provide a bed with a comfy mattress, pillow and blankets. I can make them lay in it and close their eyes until they are 18. I can turn out the lights and buy room darkening shades, which I’ve done. We can go through a bedtime routine and pray for the best. I know there are tips and tricks, some legal and others not, that could help with sleep. But I can’t make them sleep…as much as I would like to.
The older we get, the more we see rest as a need instead of a punishment. As I was sleepless, I began to think about rest and how there are times that we desperately need it and long for it but can’t. The results of not enough rest is usually seen through a change of attitude, lack of performance and sickness. Most of us have experienced that personally or seen it played out through someone else. Even God rested after He created everything. If God thinks it’s important to rest, shouldn’t I? Then I began to think about more than physical rest. Rest for our souls. How is that possible? Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Formula for rest:
Come to God…not our friends or family. God may give us friends and family to go to later but He tells us to come to Him first. No one can meet our needs like He can.
Live for God…which is the way we were created.
Learn from God…who is gentle and humble.
If physical rest can improve our attitude, performance and health, just think what could change when our souls rest.