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Embracing Divine Rest: A Journey of Spiritual Surrender
In these times we’re living through, with everything turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, I know a lot of you, like me, have found yourselves wide awake at night, trying to find that elusive sleep. It seems like everyone’s searching for ways to catch some shut eye, showing us all how much we’re yearning for peace in those quiet hours.
It’s not just about getting our bodies to rest, but it’s also about calming our minds and souls. Psalm 127:2 “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: For so He gives His beloved sleep,” has been a guiding light for me. This verse reminds us that getting up early and staying up late, worrying, doesn’t add a single day to our lives. Instead, God grants sleep to those He loves as a beautiful expression of His care.
This period of sleeplessness has been a journey of transformation, leading me to view sleep as a spiritual discipline, a practice of trust in God’s plans for us. It echoes the experience of Job, whose story of profound loss and pain, yet unwavering faith, is a powerful testament to finding closeness with God in our darkest hours (Job 7:4-5; Job 30:16-17). In the stillness of night, when sleep seems just out of reach, I’ve learned to embrace the call to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), a reminder to cease striving and find peace in God’s presence.
Insomnia, tough as it may be, isn’t without its purpose. It’s an invitation to draw nearer to God, to lay down our worries at His feet, and to choose gratitude and trust over anxiety. Take, for example, the story of King Ahasuerus from the book of Esther. A night of sleeplessness led to a moment that changed the fate of an entire people, showing us that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him (Esther 6:1-13). That restless night wasn’t a setback but a setup for a blessing.
Through my own nights of struggle, I’ve found that peace doesn’t come just from physical rest but from a spiritual surrender to God’s will. A simple shadow of a heart-shaped tree one restless night reminded me of God’s constant love, enveloping us even in our toughest times. So now, as I lay down each night, I do it with a heart full of peace, whispering a prayer of thanks for His everlasting love.
This journey has shown me that true, restful sleep comes from aligning our hearts with Jesus’s love, finding in Him the peace we all seek. Let’s remember, no matter how restless our nights may be, God’s love and peace are always there, offering us the rest we need.
We warmly invite you to come to the True Jesus Church’s bi-annual Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation. See details below.
18-21 April, 2024 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation
Thursday, 18 April, 2024 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, 19-20 April, 2024 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, 21 April, 2024 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Complimentary lunch and dinner will be served.
Please find our church location below:
4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
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For online streaming, please click here.
For regular service hours, please click here.
Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org