When it comes to the subject of rest, believers in Jesus Christ should be having a phenomenal experience every night, unless you have a newborn, in which case you have a glorious reason to be awakened several times by little baby sounds and hunger cries.
And, there is also that sacrifice of slumber due to staying up with someone who is ill. Also the necessity laid upon the student whose term paper is due and let’s not forget those first-responders who put out fires and who guard our neighborhoods when darkness falls. There are many other scenarios as well. But when we do lay our bodies down for sleep, God gives to us the secret that allows our hearts and minds to relax as well.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:21-24)
Wisdom and discretion are what we are to use daily in fulfilling our responsibilities. God has graciously given to us all that pertains to life and godliness (I Peter 1:3) so that means that wisdom and discretion are readily available to us to live our lives by. Everyone needs to know what exactly is expected of them and when we know that and strive to accomplish our calling with the goal of pleasing God, we can rest when it is time to rest.
Note the last line of the text above—your sleep will be sweet. There is a quality of rest guaranteed here, not just slumber but an implied delight. This pleasure comes from knowing that you have done all that you could do during the day with God’s help and living by God’s Words.
So, there is knowing what is expected of you—and you doing that with the wisdom and discretion taught in the scriptures—then lay down and talk to your heavenly Father until you drift off knowing that…
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore (Psalm 121).
