Sleeping and Waiting

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).

I’m going to say a word that might be triggering for some. It could raise some strong emotions, particularly during this holiday season.

You ready?

Okay, here we go:

Sleep.

. . . How are you doing? Are you okay?

Talking about sleep can raise some heavy emotions, particularly if you’re not getting enough of it (I’m talking to you, new moms!). I’ve had my fair share of waking up to crying babies, getting up in the middle of the night with sick children, or being unable to sleep through the waves of grief or stress. And don’t even get me started about losing sleep because I drink coffee twenty minutes too late!

Sleep is powerful. It’s a time in which our body restores itself. While we are unproductive in the waking world, our body does some of its hardest work. When we get enough sleep, our mood, immunity, memory, and strength improve, and have all the energy in the world to take on the day. When we don’t get sleep, we become irritable, find it hard to function normally, and try to make up for the lack with extra snacks and overloads of caffeine.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a healthy adult could survive up to two months without food, but the longest someone has ever gone without sleep was only 11 days. Now, to be clear: I’m not recommending going that long without either! But isn’t it crazy that your body can survive longer without food than without sleep?

For whatever reason, sleep was installed as a crucial part of our operating system!

Recently, I’ve spoken to many people about seasons of waiting. Have you been there? Or are you in one now? Are you waiting, praying, and looking out to the horizon for God’s promise? God may seem silent, you feel forgotten, and you wonder if He’ll ever respond.

Well, maybe the waiting season is a lot like sleeping.

From the outside, it doesn’t look like anything is happening. Nothing productive is occurring in the “waking world”—the world we see. But underneath the surface—in our hearts, minds, and souls—massive growth, change, and restoration are happening.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).

Sound familiar?

Strength is renewed. Energy is restored. Endurance is recovered.

Just as our body restores itself in that deep rest of sleep, God restores us in waiting. When we rest with Him and trust in Him, He does some of His most crucial work—growing our strength, faith, and endurance, and teaching us lessons to help us in whatever season He’s calling us to next.

Take heart, my friend! His timing is perfect, and your waiting is not in vain. In fact, this may be one of the most crucial parts of your journey!

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.