Joel M Bradshaw

16Yours is the day, yours also the night;
you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.–Psalm 74

Asaph followed his masterful Psalm 73 with another great one. Here, the nation was facing a scoffing enemy, and Asaph was calling on God to take care of business. Towards the end of the psalm, Asaph turned into Job and spouted off God’s great sovereign works. His point in our verse is that God created the very means people can see and go about either day or night. And in a world without electricity, nighttime was seen only by making a fire or by the very moon and stars themselves.

When I read this line this morning, something else stood out. I thought our verse would make some good self-talk. Let me explain.

I am journeying with a man who faces insomnia. He wakes up in the middle of the night with panic and fear about matters that might not be true. In his depression, we have already addressed some great self-talk changes throughout his day. Reminding himself that God is faithful. That God provides. That God cares.

The person who needs to be reminded that the day belongs to God is one who struggles with purpose. Daytime is when we usually work and accomplish things. So the depressed person during the day fights a different battle. Reminding oneself that God owns the day is great motivation to give God glory with the day. To see your purpose and mission for the day in those terms. “Yours is the day, God. Help me to give you glory today!”

But nighttime can be a great struggle when anxiety jumps into the boat. For our thoughts can race at night. We ponder scenarios and outcomes. Real or imaginary. Things we have said or forgotten to do come racing at us in random fits and moments. We startle awake and stay alert with hearts racing. We look at the clock with judgment and despair. We tell ourselves that we should be asleep. That other people are asleep and so we are abnormal and broken. Insomnia is a time when shame partners with anxiety. Shame usually is best friends with depression.

My friend stays awake with fear about daytime matters. But his sleep is robbed. Recent homework was to give him things to focus on. Using that time to ponder Scripture, to memorize a psalm, to recite things for which he is thankful and grateful. Turning the frustrating sleepless hours to a different purpose. Rather than the mind racing, it has renewed purpose centered in the faithfulness of God. Today’s psalm gives my friend another line to pray!

“Yours is the night, God. Even when I can’t sleep I know that you are both God and good. Help me to find rest.” The same ‘God’s got this!” during the day also is a good perspective for the night.

The one losing sleep can find a perspective centered in God and his certain faithfulness rather than the self and perceived inadequacies. Hours tossing and turning can be repurposed for prayer and lamenting. The mind that races can be put to work pondering and memorizing the very Bible that is the source of our needed direction from God. And on the chance that spiritual warfare is involved in your insomnia, the last thing the enemy desires is for you to turn to God. Yours is the night, God!–JMB