What Keeps You Up at Night?

Recently, I accompanied Darrell on a work trip to the West Coast.  This is the annual meeting that Darrell has with other Directors of Baptist Associations of churches located in cities of one million populations or more across the United States.  It is a wonderful time to visit and have fellowship with other minister wives.

During our yearly visits, the women have talked, walked, cried and prayed together as sisters in Christ and as minister wives.  This year, our wonderful host, Judy Carlisle, led us through an innovative way of truly getting to know each other on a deeper level.  One of the most significant questions was, “what keeps you up at night?”   Initially, the question didn’t hold much weight for me.  I am long past the sleepless nights of babies and small children.  I do not suffer from indigestion.  Darrell’s dog is older, so there are no puppy needs.  We are not hearing gunshots near our house like we did in Venezuela. All of the kids are grown and I am not waiting up for them to come home. And the history list could go on and on of those items that have kept me up at night.

As I began to ponder deeply, I realized there were unanswered prayers that put me to sleep when I go to bed.  See, praying has been the answer to those things that have kept me up at night.  As I reflected, I remembered all the nights of being   engulfed by worry and the “tape recorder” that wouldn’t shut off.  Actually, it was more like a recording that would start as I laid my head on the pillow.  Things that I didn’t think about all day long, somehow magically appeared at night. Worries for the children, conversations that I had or wished I could have with someone, the “what ifs” in life that never had a good ending. I spent many hours a night in an insomnia state trying to solve every problem I had, we had, the children had, the church had or the world had, which seemed out of sorts.  When we are trying to work out both sides of the conversations, we are exhausted and deprived of sleep.  Speculations abound and the truth or facts of situations evade us. How about those conversations of how to stretch the budget, making more out of the paycheck and “cheaper” meals to feed the family.  These are the things that keep many of us up at night. All of our thoughts are not facts, but there are real heartbreaking occurrences such as illness, troubled relationships and financial difficulties that plague our night and consume our sleep hours. 

The tragedy of what is happening in Ukraine is foremost in all of our minds. We are truly worried and concern about the lives of the Ukrainian people. Many of us have spent time praying individually or cooperatively with our churches for that nation. But for us, the unintentional collateral damage is the fear of how we will be affected. Are we safe?  As prices rise, will our money stretch?

How do we handle what is playing in our minds, the worry that consumes our peace and the unresolved relationships or needs that we desperately want to heal.

In the 1800’s, Horatio Spafford, his wife Anna, a son and four daughters lived in Chicago.  Horatio was a successful lawyer and a real estate investor. The couple was involved in philanthropy and service in their church (American Songwriter, by Barnabas Piper).  In 1871, life for the Spaffords changed drastically. Their four-year-old son contracted scarlet fever and died.  Adding to that devastation, Chicago experienced the historical fire, which destroyed a large portion of the Spaffords investments. Two years after these two tragic events, life was moving ahead towards a new normal; the family planned a trip to Europe. Business held Horatio at home while Anna and four daughters began their voyage by ship to Europe.  During the trip, the vessel the Spaffords were on collided with another vessel, resulting in great tragedy and loss.  Anna penned a note to Horatio that stated, “saved alone.”  All four of their daughters had been lost at sea.

While in route to meet his wife Anna in the area of the tragedy, Horatio penned a song which has come to mean so much to all of us as a beacon of hope, not focusing on loss but looking ahead, “It Is Well With My Soul” (arranged by Philip Bliss).

How do we conquer what is keeping us up at night?  The Bible is full of verses on peace and the character of God. I will just share a few.

1Peter 5:7  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (NIV)

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (NIV)

Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NIV)

Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (NIV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (NIV)

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV)

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…” (NIV)

The list can go on and on.  I mentioned earlier about prayers that put me to sleep.  I have learned to turn “the tape recorder” off and replace it with sincere prayer for everyone and anything that is consuming my mind and emotions.  There are many of you that use those dark times in the night to take all your thoughts to the Lord in prayer.  For me, at some point, I drift off to a deep sleep.  I’m so thankful that even though I sleep, our Father neither sleeps nor slumbers.
Psalm 121: 3-5 “He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep 5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;..” (NIV)
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (NIV)
I invite you to share what verses fill your heart with comfort, strength, truth and leads you in the darkness of the night.  God wants us to have sweet slumber and trust Him as our Lord. 
If I can pray for you in anyway, drop me a note or message me on messenger or instagram. 
Blessings and be encouraged by the words of “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford
Karen

Horatio G. Spafford, 1828-1888
Verse 1
When peace, like a river,
Attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 2
Though Satan should buffet,
Though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
My helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 3
My sin, oh, the bliss
Of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross,
And I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Verse 4
And Lord, haste the day
When my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound,
And the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.