I am an insomniac. I often can not sleep. I not only have difficulty falling asleep but staying asleep. If I awaken during the night, it usually takes me a very long time to fall back to sleep. This is very frustrating. Today, more and more people are suffering from insomnia - so much so that we now have medications prescribed to us to help us sleep. Though insomnia can be caused by medical issues, it has become a common problem experienced by average, everyday Americans.
I know that part of my insomnia problem is related to medical issues. But I also know it is at its worst when I am stressed, overworked, over scheduled, and overly busy. I often find it hard to relax my mind. I rehearse the day over and over in my head. I worry about problems and how to solve them, then think of all the things that could go wrong. I stress about how we are going to handle the next busy day, week, or month. I am anxious over finances, health, my children. These thoughts catch hold of my mind and won't release it, causing me to toss and turn my way to another restless night.
Do you experience this type of thing? Can you relate to this? If so, there is hope and there is help. Ecclesiastes 5:3 gives us a great solution to this problem, "Too much work gives you restless dreams..." When we overtax and over fill our busy schedules, we leave no time for the things that are important - time to build a solid relationship with God, time for family, friends, and other relationships. We wind ourselves up tighter than a spring with our busy schedules. Sooner or later the tension is going build to the point that the spring will break or unwind. If you don't slow down then that spring will come undone at the one time your body does stop - at night as you try to sleep!
Our goal in life is not to keep ourselves busy, even if that busyness is good works. Our goal in life is to serve and please God, first and foremost. So often we think we have to fill up our schedules and our children's schedules with good things. We mistakenly think that our schedules being filled with good works is a sign of our salvation or will keep our kids out of trouble. Remembering that our good works aren't what saves us but instead is an outflow of our salvation can help us to keep our busyness in check. Busy schedules filled with good things is bad if it infringes on our relationships - especially our relationship with God. Busy schedules do not equate to our kids staying out of trouble - only parents who make the time to teach their children about God and His Word have a better chance at their children growing up with a heart for God and making godly choices. Busy schedules don't help us to build relationships with others so that we can show them the authentic love of Jesus Christ with our words and our deeds.
The cure for insomnia starts with a heart of peace, peace that comes from God alone. That peace can be achieved when we make the time to seek it, reducing our schedules to reflect the things that are truly important in life. Analyze your life and seek ways to cut out those things that are just 'busywork.' Commit your time and resources to those things that matter the most. All is meaningless if God is not in it. Trim your schedule and rest well friends!
In His Love, Cathy
1 comment:
Thank you SO much for sharing your heart with us today on this subject. I too have been struggling with this very thing. I have asked some of my close friends to pray for me in this area...some of them also struggle with this. I have been shaken recently by the loss of two dear friends who are now with the Lord.(only 37 & 38 years old!!) It has brought some serious "reality thinking" to my life. Striving to put Christ first and remembering what really matters each day. Learning to live my life like Mary...at the feet of Jesus. Blessings to you, friend.
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