Sleep is a precious gift from God. The restoration that happens to our bodies when we rest is profound. And we do a lot of it. If, as some experts suggest, we were to get 8 hours of sleep a day, then 1/3 of our lives would be spent in unconscious slumber.

For some, this ideal, though blissful in theory, is a long way from reality. For others, the thought is terrifying. After all, to spend that much time in a state where you really have no control over what’s going on around you is worrying. For others still, there’s an opportunity cost in sleep that they are unwilling to pay. Life is short. We need to make the most of the limited time, either by working hard or playing hard. John Bon Jovi summed it up well when he said “I’ll live when I’m alive and sleep when I’m dead.”

We should have a godly attitude to sleep. If we trust in the sovereignty of God, we ought not to worry about surrendering ourselves to his will. If we trust in his provision, we ought not to worry about having to work perpetually to generate a livelihood. If we trust in his promise of eternity, we ought not to worry about having to make the most of the here and now. We can rest in his sovereign and eternal provision.

Psalm 127 urges us to trust in God, even with our sleep. It speaks of the futility of burning the candle at both ends. Moreover, it shows the futility of maximising time while minimising God. It is foolish to think we can replace God with sleeplessness and expect a better result. The Psalm is not suggesting we be lazy, but it is suggesting that relying solely on ourselves for sustenance is unsustainable, unwise, and actually unnecessary.

Because God supplies to the faithful what they need. We can be assured of that. He is faithful, and in Christ, he has demonstrated that faithfulness. The bread of life who came down from heaven can supply our souls for all eternity.

We can rest, assured of that.