Resisting the force of sleep’s beckoning call has never been my strength. Repeatedly, I always claimed the title of being the first to fall asleep at slumber parties.
When my husband and I dated, he watched the ending of many movies alone. As much as I tried, my eyes just could not stay open. The phenomenon became a joke.
Socializing with friends in my twenties presented the same challenges. How can I walk out the door at the time I usually go to bed?
Fast forward to motherhood. I was blessed with three kids; two of whom awoke every two hours for feedings for the first six months. There are plenty of unknowns when one enters parenthood; chronic fatigue is one of them.
Being tired becomes the norm.
Pushing through it and embracing God’s purposes becomes challenging but not impossible. Because we are reminded that God fills the gap in our weakness.
God sees us.
God sees us because we are never out of sight. No closed eyes.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:3-4
Throughout history, the children of God have needed assurance that we have not been abandoned. Our cries may be loud. The temptation to hide in shame may lure.
But God is awake. Moving. Creating, Comforting, Redeeming.
Thanks be to God.
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This is so true! Becoming a parent is such a blessing, but those sleepless nights can kill you sometimes. My 3rd child was a nightmare for sleeping and for his first 3 years he hardly slept. It was torture. It was only with God’s hand could I get through this. Your neighbour this week on FMF.
I had a relative who reminded me that lack of sleep is a torture device in war. I get it.
This is so encouraging, Stephanie. I need that assurance too: that God never slumbers or sleeps and that He is always with us even when circumstances might tempt us to believe that He’s left us on our own. “God is awake” — such a comforting truth. Thank you and have a great weekend.
Jeannie (#60 this week)
I’m so glad God is awake. I laughed at falling asleep at movies. When I worked at camp, we often would go to movies on the weekends we had off. Many of us including me often fell asleep. I’m in the 6 spot this week.
Now that my children are older (adults and teens) I am grateful that I no longer wake in the middle of the night (except when my 50+ bladder calls). Raising children and working long hours, I lived my life exhausted back then. Now I’m exhausted for different reasons. Stopping in from #8 at the FMF this week.
Amen, my friend. I wonder sometimes if part of my anxious sleeplessness (for along with being chronically exhausted, I also deal with insomnia, which creates a vicious cycle) is because I forget the truth that God is always watching. Always working. Always taking care of me. Thank you so much for this reminder today!
Love this! I draw much comfort that God is watching as I sleep.
Visiting from #91 at FMF.
Those words from Psalm 121:3-4 have always been a comfort to me. Knowing He is always awake, always watching over me (and my family) is reassuring. And yes, to parenting being a sleep-stealer. But, God. He is the One who strengthens and enables us to nurture our families. He teaches us to love them well.
Great post, Stephanie!