My eyes
fluttered open, but the room was still dark. It was too early to get up. I
sighed, adjusted my pillow, and hoped for sleep. Unfortunately, a lengthy to-do
list bombarded my brain. I needed to buy groceries, deliver a meal to a friend,
answer e-mail, schedule a doctor’s appointment . . . .
If you’ve
ever been overwhelmed and worried, you know how it feels to stare at the
ceiling when you should be sleeping. The writer of Psalm 119 was no stranger to
this experience. He wrote, “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry
for help; I hope in Your Word” (v.147).
God’s
Word delivered special comfort during the psalmist’s sleepless nights. Although
he couldn’t make his problems disappear, he said, “My eyes are awake through
the night watches, that I may meditate on Your Word” (v.148). At night he
reviewed God’s Word over and over in his mind. He concentrated on Scripture
rather than his concerns. This practice allowed him to proclaim, “Oh, how I
love Your law!” (v.97).
When worry wakes you up, remember, “The Word of God is living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). Select a passage and mull it over. Our cares cannot compete with God’s Word!
Only God can still our hearts and quiet our minds. (RBC)
