When you can't sleep...

The other night, it was 2:30 am and I was having a hard time going to sleep. For some reason, I could not calm my mind down. It seemed the longer I remained awake, the more I found to be anxious over.

So, I turned to the Word.

"Why am I discouraged? Why so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise Him again -- my Savior and my God

Through each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life."

Ps. 42:5, 8 

"Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand.

You will keep on guiding me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

My heart and flesh may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

But God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do"

Psalm 73:23-26, 28 (NLT)

As the Lord continued to minister to me through the Psalms, it seemed as if I was reading David's journal -

Since 10th grade, I have journaled pretty regularly my spiritual walk with the Lord. Sometimes, I write out my prayers to help me remained focused. Other times, I record what the Lord is teaching me. I love having a place to pour out my emotions, fears, praises and questions to God. - It seems to me that Psalms was written as if it were David's journal.

I was also intrigued by the fact that the phrases found in Ps 42:5 ("Why so downcast, Oh my soul? Put your hope in God -") appear other places in the following chapters. What a comfort to . know that David was feeling as I do sometimes, knowing that God is the One I must hope and trust in - yet needing to remind myself of that over and over.  

I quickly found myself relaxed, putting my hope in God - I went to sleep with a song to God in my heart - a old song from my youth group days playing over and over in my head. When you're discouraged - Put your hope in God! He'll give you the peace you are searching for!