I was alarmed, panicked, and very afraid. Someone had broken into the apartment next to ours with the quick flick of a knife on the back door lock. What if he came to our apartment?! Our bedrooms were upstairs with only one narrow stairway. I had an infant and a toddler, and my husband worked nights. How would I ever get my children to safety if I woke to an invader ascending the stairs?!

I had a number of very restless nights until I read a particular passage of scripture during my regular quiet time. Psalm 4:8 states, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” How could David write this? The beginning of this Psalm indicates that he was having difficulties; that he had enemies and people who were attacking his honor. Could he have written this while he was running for his life for fourteen years, while jealous King Saul pursued him, trying to kill him? Was he sleeping in caves, feeling like a hunted animal? How could David sleep with all the tumult of enemies and people trying to dismantle him? How could I sleep with the possibility of an assailant breaking into my apartment?

As I read the Psalm, I realized where David’s focus was. It was not on the situation, no matter how scary or troublesome it was. Instead, it was on God who is more powerful than any situation. David put himself in God’s care. God was more powerful than any man. If need be, God would wake him and tell him to run. God would guide him. God would protect him. Because of his trust in God, David could lay down at night with peace in his heart. With that peace and confidence, he could sleep tranquilly. That was what I needed.

As I thought about my situation, I realized God was much more powerful than my husband, despite the comfort of his strong presence. I decided to throw myself and my children upon His care and protection. Every night before retiring, I prayed for God’s curtain of protection over our entire apartment. Then I laid down, and let Him keep watch. Our apartment complex was never broken into again. And I slept peacefully, knowing I and my family were in God’s totally capable care.

#trust # bugler #Psalm4:8 #sleeplessness #KingDavid  #KingSaul #enemies #caves #sleep #motherhood #BeautifulYou!(InsideandOut!) #www.LifefortheSoul.org  #peace