"How to Get a Good Night's Sleep"

“How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep”

When I work a day shift at the hospital I first get a referral list of patients for whom a chaplain visit might be helpful. This has the location, diagnosis, faith tradition and a reason the contact was ordered, the most common one being anxiety. This is understandable because a hospital stay usually means there’s an issue to be addressed and many unknown factors can be involved. My role in such situations is to try to bring comfort and assurance through listening, showing empathy and (in the majority of cases) praying for the patient, family and care team.

As humans we’re prone to worry about out-of-the-ordinary circumstances (and maybe when there’s nothing unusual but we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop). Paul understood this tendency so he dealt with it in his letter to his friends at Philippi: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). Using the “put off/put on/why” approach, we’re told to stop being anxious. But the Apostle knew this was easier said than done so his counsel is to replace it with prayer. An old youth chorus asks, “Why worry when you can pray?”—but how should we do so?  The great missionary answers this with three different words. The first is prayer, suggesting worship and adoration of God. Based on who He is the next is petition, sharing our needs and problems with heartfelt sincerity and realization that “…all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27). This is to be done with thankfulness that He hears and will respond in His time and in keeping with His purposes. The outcome is that God’s peace will overwhelm us and keep us safe in His care in ways far beyond our comprehension (“…{He} is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine….”—Ephesians 3:20). (To help further Paul gives us a “think list” in Verse 8.)

When does anxiety hit hardest? At night when all’s quiet and we have little to keep our minds from wandering into unhealthy territory. Here’s where the “think list” of Verse 8 can be part of our praying. Then we can say with David, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8).

So let the snoring begin!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan