We all need it, and yet we all struggle to get it. It makes us do better in every area of our lives, and yet we treat it as if it is optional. It helps us achieve our goals, yet if we don’t get it, we cannot become all we were meant to be. So what is it? Sleep.

You might be saying to yourself, “But I sleep every night!” Do you? As a longtime physician, I’d ask you, “Do you sleep like you need to, or do you just get by?” Do you find you get just enough sleep so that you can function, or do you get enough sleep so you can be at your best? All through the Bible we are told how God wants us to rest, to sleep. In one of the most beloved passages, we are told, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul” Psalm 23:1-3b. I love those words: He refreshes my soul. We so desperately need refreshment, and yet many people struggle to get adequate sleep. According to a report by U.S. News, 21% of adults rarely or never wake up feeling well rested, and only 28% of adults can say they wake up feeling well-rested most days of the week. These statistics are not good. Sleep does so much for us.

Although many of the ideas about sleep are still theories, it is believed by most doctors that sleep is involved in some very important processes. Sleep allows our cells to repair and regrow. Sleep affects brain function, including learning, memory, decision making, creativity, focus, and attention. Sleep affects our weight by controlling hunger hormones — if we do not sleep well, there are frequently more problems with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Sleep helps us have better emotional health . We can handle stress better if we get adequate sleep. But if sleep is so important, why do we struggle to get enough? I think the Bible answers that question clearly: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves” Psalm 127:2.

We tend to think our success depends on ourselves, and not on God. We feel that “if we don’t do it, it won’t get done.” So we rise up early and we stay up late. But Jesus wants things to be different. He tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus wants us to walk with Him through this life. But the fact is, so many people I encounter are weary. Yes, life is hard and full of struggles. Jesus tells us that He wants to help in all those areas, He wants to bear those burdens with us. He wants to give us rest. So one of the first things for us to do is to be intentional about our rest, to make it a priority. We do that by making our walk with Jesus our prime concern. Then we establish a routine to get 7-9 hours of sleep each day. We make sure our sleep environment is good — quiet, comfortable, and the right temperature. Avoid the things that make it harder to sleep such as caffeine, bright lights, and stimulating activities prior to bedtime. Keep electronic devices out of the bedroom (yes, that means even your cell phones). If you need better sleep, be intentional in the steps you take. Sleep is important for your well being. And that way, “when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” Proverbs 3:24.

If you want to know more, please check out my Servant School Course: Faith & Wellness.