Psalm 121:4- Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
“Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.” As someone who is a night owl, I laughed at these words from a mentor, but he was right. Why take a nap? There are tasks to accomplish, people to meet, and goals to meet. Although I can make my desire to remain constantly busy and alert sound noble, my lack of rest reveals the opposite. It reveals a lack of faith in God.
Our Protector is Sovereign
My lack of sleep comes from my need for control. If I don’t sleep, I can accomplish one more task. I can get a head start on the next day’s work. I can ensure everything is as it should be. But God handles the world just fine on his own. He doesn’t need a break and need me to take watch. In fact, my sleeping proves my faith. Where does my help come from? Not from constant activity and busyness. My help comes from the Lord. The Sovereign one who has everything under control. He will not let my foot slip.
Our Protector is Vigilant
My lack of rest also comes from an anxious heart. If I’m asleep, I’m unaware. What if a problem arises? What if I can’t respond to something quickly enough? What if I miss something? But I don’t need to be ever vigilant because God is. Nothing will catch him by surprise and there is nothing of which he is unaware. Therefore, “I can both lie down and sleep in peace because the Lord alone makes me live in safety” (Ps. 4:8).
Do I truly believe God has everything under control? Do I trust there is nothing he does not see? If I do, I will sleep in peace because, “Indeed, the protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.”