Sleepless nights...not being able to fall asleep, broken sleep, awaken in the middle sleep. Why do they happen? Sometimes it comes from the food we eat before we go to bed, the neighbor's dog barking, a beloved child interrupting, or someone higher! No matter what the reason it happens. Some are easier to fix than others too.
I know for myself lately the Lord has been interfering with my sleep one way or the other. Examples are laying in bed thinking of future ministry opportunities and visions for it, waking me up to give me sermon ideas or things I need to pray for, or what I think is just sometimes seeing if I will obey.
You may be confused by the last thought, to see if I will obey. These times could get a little frustrating. It is when God wakes me up, but doesn't speak to me or my thoughts just start running. I wake up and I lay there silence all around. Then I cry out (in my head, so I don't wake up my wife) like those from the day of old, "Here am I, Lord!!!!!" But with no answer. And I start to fall asleep and awake again, and say "Here am I, Lord!" Still with no answer. Eventually, God will speak or let me go back to sleep. But those nights He doesn't speak makes me really wonder, did I miss something, was it God, or is He just playing with me? But I have started to look at it as a test of obedience.
Can I give some encouragement to ya? First off, when God speaks make sure you write it down. I can't tell you how many times He has revealed something to me and come the morning and it is there but not in full color. Second, as you are faithful with His calling, that means you waking up, He will show Himself faithful to show you things. Third, some of "my" best ideas have come in the midnight hours. I think that is because my mind isn't functioning enough to mess up His thoughts and plans.
So are sleepless nights really that bad? Not as long as it is God speaking. Other than that yes they are terrible. I wish you a good night's sleep and may the Lord speak to ya.
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