There's a decorative plaque that hangs on my bedroom wall that says: "Before you go to bed, give your troubles to God. He will be up all night anyway." These words of wisdom gave me great comfort when someone tied an explosive device to our above-the-ground swimming pool in an attempt to blow a hole in it. The idea of thousands of gallons of water flooding our property was more than enough to make me feel uneasy. When my husband called the police to report the incident, the officer who inspected the damage could not believe that the explosion did nothing more than make an unsightly crater in the side of our pool. I knew that the Lord had protected us from what could have been a much worse calamity, and I thanked and praised Him for His mercy. My husband, Joe, however, was angry and frightened that the culprit would come back to finish the job he had started. He began sleeping with the phone number of our local police beside his bed, and sound sleep eluded him for some nights after the attack. As I sought the Lord in prayer, I sensed Him speaking to my heart, "You can fret and live in fear over this incident, or you can trust Me to stand guard while you close your eyes and go to sleep." I immediately thought about my husband's fitful sleep, and I prayed with confidence and conviction, "Lord, I am going to sleep now, and I am trusting You to watch over me and all that is mine."

Scripture says: "My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber." (Psalm 121:2-3 NIV) I have prayed and stood on these verses every day for years, but it wasn't until this incident that I experienced the awesome truth and power behind this promise from the Lord in a very real way. The same God who created the universe is the same God who is willing and able to watch over us, and everything we care about, day and night. The following verse in this passage says that the Lord "will neither slumber nor sleep." (v.4) And Isaiah 40:28 (NIV) says: "The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary." Do you remember how Jesus asked His most trusted disciples to "watch and pray" with Him for "just one hour," while He poured out His heart to the Father, just before He went to the cross? They all fell asleep on Him, not just once, but three times! (Matthew 26:36-45) God will never do that to us. He stays wide awake, even when we are fast asleep. As He told the prophet Jeremiah, "I am alert and active." (Jeremiah 1:12 AMP)

King David wrote: "If You wake me each morning with the sound of Your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in You. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before You." (Psalm 143:8 MSG) Here, the Spirit of God through David reveals how we can cooperate with the Lord to build our trust in Him - the kind of trust that will enable us to sleep in peace each night, no matter what is going on around us. We must greet each new day speaking to God, and listening for His voice. We must ask Him to give us His wisdom and guidance, and to make us sensitive and obedient to His Spirit's leading. As we follow God, His peace will follow us.

David said, "I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side." (Psalm 3:5-6 NLT) Even when surrounded by thousands of bitter enemies, David enjoyed sweet sleep. He trusted His God. How about you?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times that I forfeited a good night's sleep, because I failed to trust You to watch over me and mine. Give me the faith and the confidence I need in You and Your Word that will enable me to enjoy the peaceful sleep that is Your best for me. Thank You that as I put my wholehearted trust in You, I will wake up each morning feeling refreshed and energized!