He Gives His Beloved Sweet Sleep

To avoid the work-week traffic, I left at a decent time last Sunday to drive home from Austin. About two and a half hours of driving later, I started to get quite drowsy. I saw a Rest Area up ahead and thought I’d pull off and shut my eyes for a few minutes. I lowered my seat back, grabbed my favorite pillow that I take with me everywhere, and thought 10-minutes of rest would revive me. I could hardly believe it when I awoke an hour later. I realized I’d be late getting back to Frisco where my family had lunch waiting on me. But, then I praised God because I had been averaging only about 5 hours of sleep at night over the last couple of weeks, and I said, “Thank you, God! You really do give your beloved sweet sleep.”

This photo is one of my all-time favorites and so very dear to my heart. The little guy is my, now 17 year old grandson, Payton Wallace. Our little Payton was beyond tired -- he just couldn't make it through his meal. It was our weekend with Payton and Alexia and that meant action-packed, non-stop fun from morning until night. We made the most of our time with our grandchildren, making lots of memories, and now that my Sweetheart is in heaven, I'm so glad we did. Most of all, they got to know how special and loving their Papa was. He definitely made an impression on their lives -- so much so -- that they still talk about him a lot and recall so many fun times with him.

And, like that precious boy falling asleep after a busy day of fun, so did Nana and Papa when the kids' Mom and Dad came to pick them up. We would drop into our recliners, and, we would fall fast asleep too. Yes, God gives His beloved sweet sleep.... right when we need it most.

Precious Payton didn't have a care in the world so he could just rest in happy freedom. And, through faith and complete trust in our Lord, we, too, can rest in Him in happy freedom from care. Those whom the Lord loves are delivered from the fret of life. Just like my husband and I wanting to give the best things to our grandchildren, God is sure to give the best things to His beloved, and like this photo, we know He gives them sweet sleep -- that is a laying aside of care, a forgetfulness of need, a quiet leaving of matters with God. This kind of sleep is better than riches and honor. Remember how Jesus slept amid the ups and downs of a storm at sea? He knew that He was in his Father's hands, so He could be so quiet in spirit that the billows rocked Him to sleep.

Take it from me. There are often times when I wake in the night and sleep is far from me, but I visualize being in the bow of the ship and think about the sweetness of God's love and I remind myself of His words. "I give my beloved sweet sleep." Yes, I'm His beloved and I also remind myself of Isaiah 26:3 "Him I will keep in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Me." Between that rocking boat, and thinking about my Father, before long I'm back to sound sleep......just like my little grandson......with not a care in the world.