Have you ever gone to bed with something on your mind? Perhaps you were thinking about a big decision you had to make the next day or something out of your control. The truth is that we all face those nights where sleep doesn’t come easy because of that something that is on our mind.

When David wrote Psalm 3, he had a few things on his mind … just a few. His son Absalom had killed his own brother. He later won the hearts of the people and was leading a rebellion against his father. David’s own son was angry enough to kill him! Think of how troubled David must have been as he fled from Jerusalem and crossed the Jordan River. It must have been hard to sleep. And yet amidst all the danger and turmoil in his soul, David penned these words:

“I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.”

David’s situation was not good. He and his family were on the run. The enemy could strike at any moment. He would soon have to battle against and perhaps kill his own son. Amidst all this turmoil, David still trusted the Lord to take him through the night and took the time to thank God for a good night’s sleep. Isn’t that noteworthy?

How often do we notice the bad things that happen and forget to thank God for a good night’s sleep? We think about what is troubling us so much that we forget to be thankful for what we receive every night. There have been things on my mind of late. I have been asking God for a specific need for quite some time. My mind constantly thinks about it throughout the day. But should that ruin my day? No, I just need to remember the little things that God has already done for me. Though my specific need has not yet been answered, I am thankful that God has given me the sleep I needed.

Trust God for your situation. But don’t forget to recognize the “little” things God gives you every day. It made a difference for David’s peace of mind and will for you as well.