Sleep and Refreshment

I was struck by the truth of this statement:

Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there in a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. (Spurgeon; quoted in Knowing God by JI Packer)

Sleep will not rest us as well as time with our Lord and Savior. Sleep will not refresh us like time studying God in his word. In our times of suffering, sleep alone will not bring healing.

I share this not as one who runs well on little sleep. I NEED sleep. I love sleep. My family can testify that I have loved sleep from early childhood. My mom says that I would regularly leave playtime to go into my room, crawl into bed and take a nap. She would find me fast asleep only moments after last checking on me playing. 

I run best on about 10 hours of sleep. I learned this in college when I tested as clinically sleep-deprived. I have fallen asleep while driving more than once. The Lord has preserved my life more than once as well. I used to cry when I was woken up in the night or when I couldn't go to sleep - even as an adult. Ask Kevin. I say all of this to share my clear weakness and humanity - I am worthless without sleep.

Then Chloe was born! I didn't know I could function on such little sleep! As a mom, I regularly function on approximately 6 hours of sleep. I am regularly woken up at all hours of the night. The amazing part is that God sustains me! He gives grace! He has used my sleep deprivation to reveal much sin that was lurking in my heart. It is much harder to hide sin when you can barely stay awake! Lacking sleep has been good for my soul. Difficult at times. But good.

In our recent heartache, I was tempted at times to just sleep when I was hurting. I found, however, that memorizing God's word was much more refreshing. Sleep is absolutely necessary to our bodies - a constant reminder that we are the creature rather than the Creator - but it does not refresh the soul.