Do you want to know the thing that I have always been
excellent at?
Sleeping.
Ask my mom. She’ll tell you that since the day I was born, I
was better at sleeping than any of my other siblings. Over the years I have
treasured the fact that I can drink coffee and be asleep 5 minutes later. I can
be woken in the middle of the night due to a storm, get up shut all the
windows, crawl back into bed and be asleep in a moment. I can even wake up
enough to give coherent answers, fall back asleep and have no recollection that
my sleep was in any way disturbed. This particular talent of mine has truly
benefitted me.
Why am I talking about this?
Well, last night I couldn’t sleep. I know you really care
about my sleeping patterns, in fact I bet you were just about to ask me. I
thought I would save you the trouble J.
The reason that I couldn’t sleep was that the woes and cares
of this world (or more particularly the woes and cares of my grammar class)
inserted themselves into my sleep and I woke up stressed and overwhelmed. This
has happened on very few occasions in my entire life. My sleep is not easily
interrupted.
There was one marked difference between last night and other
times that this has happened. Instead of focusing on these pesky woes and cares
of the world that were disturbing me, I used my awakened state to focus on Jesus.
Other times when this has happened I have focused on the woe that was troubling
me, I’ve tried to solve it. I’ve tried to fix it. I’ve tried in my own power to
make it go away. Actually, other times, I’ve even just laid there pouting and
saying “why me?”
God has been training me to look only at Him despite my
environment, and circumstances. This training has been going on especially over
the past year and a half, and I am happy to report that I am seeing an
improvement. I was engaged in a scuffle last night, and thanks to Jesus’ grace
and training, even though my sleep took a hit, I think I won that battle.
So many good verses apply to this experience!
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he
will never permit the righteous to be moved.
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of
various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome
the world.”
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