Adapted from Encouraging Words for Women by Darlene Sala
David had sleepless nights, so the Bible tells us. I can relate to that, especially when my life’s stress level is high. It’s amazing how our eyes can pop wide open at 2:00 a.m. Our minds work overtime in the middle of the night, or so it seems. But instead of merely tossing and turning, David prayed—a good use for those hours. In fact, an interesting study can be done on how all the writers of the psalms spent their sleepless nights. Notice these:
- Psalm 16:7 NKJV—My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
- Psalm 22:2 NKJV—I cry. . .in the night season.
- Psalm 63:6 NKJV—I meditate on You in the night watches.
- Psalm 77:6 NKJV—I call to remembrance my song in the night.
- Psalm 119:148 NKJV—My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.
One night David prayed, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You” (Psalm 143:8 NKJV). David must have had a decision to make, for he says, “Cause me to know the way in which I should walk.” He went to the right source for wisdom: “I lift up my soul to You.” He turned to God, his all-knowing, all-wise heavenly Father.
Problems always look more manageable in the morning, don’t they? David knew the sun would eventually rise. But he didn’t just pray for morning to come quickly; he prayed that in the morning he would hear God’s loving, kind voice telling him what he should do. David must not have trusted his own judgment in the middle of the night because at that hour he knew he might not make a good decision. I know how warped my perspective is at 2:00 a.m. In the middle of the night I’m not a good judge of either my circumstances or God’s will!
At any rate, David intended to follow whatever advice God gave him, for he ended his prayer, in verse 12, with the phrase, “For I am Your servant.” He was ready to follow whatever plans God outlined for him. Maybe he’d be a tired servant, but he would be an obedient one.
May you find that same sense of peace and resolve the next time you’re awake in the middle of the night!