Psalm 127:2 “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.”
Ah yes, sleep. Something that all humans must have. However, in today’s society there are large segments of the population that have problems with sleeping. While I am not going to delve into the neurological, pathological or any physiological etiology of sleep; I do want to address the psychological, emotional and spiritual components of sleep deprivation and sleep excess.
How much sleep you get determines not only how you feel physically, but how you feel emotionally. Your behavior and relationships are directly affected by how much sleep you get. If you are sleepy, you snap more quickly at others. You are more irritable and quicker to explode in anger. You have a short fuse. You won’t get as much accomplished because you drag through your day. There are physical, emotional and spiritual reasons for not sleeping well.
The first place to look would be in the physical realm and what you are taking into your body before bedtime. Too much caffeine? Too much stimulation such as exercising at night, watching certain TV shows or playing video games can cause you to be hyper and not readily fall asleep. Some workout and weight loss supplements can cause you to get poor sleep because of their ingredients. Think about what you do after 7 pm in the evening. If there is nothing you can think of; talk with your physician. Your doctor needs to rule out any medical conditions that can cause you to not sleep enough or to not get enough of what they call “deep sleep”. Everything from sleep apnea, to heart troubles to acid reflux and beyond can cause sleep deprivation. This is easily remedied by the care of a professional.
If there is no medical reason for the sleep problems, then you will want to look at the emotional reasons next. Worry and stress are the number one cause from the emotional standpoint. You lay awake at night worrying about things that happened, things that might happen or things that will never happen. You will have to start studying the Word more and praying more to begin to grow emotionally. Philippians 4:6. You can also buy a Christian book that helps you learn to combat anxiety, fear, worry etc… from a scriptural standpoint. Some sleep problems are temporary due to a crisis in your life. Divorce, death of a loved one, kids in trouble etc… While these cause sleep problems, with grace and growth eventually you should return to a normal sleep pattern.
Spiritually speaking, sin can cause sleep problems. My dad used to always joke with people saying, “ If you had a clean conscience you could sleep.” While he meant it as a joke, there is some truth to this. Guilt or shame associated with personal sin, or the sins of others, can disturb your sleep. Just look at the people in the Bible. The way to deal with your own sin is to confess and repent. The way to deal with others who are sinning or whom have wronged you is called forgiveness. Forgiveness of others is the single greatest sleeping pill in the world.
Sleep affects our children and family. Stress, anger, irritability and general harmony and peace in the home are directly related to whether or not each family member is getting enough sleep. There are many whiny, irritable little kids in this country, who may not need medication; but actually just need a more appropriate number of hours of sleep. Parents who do not give children regular bed times that allow 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, ( depending upon the age of the child) may find all types of out-of-control behavior that could be remedied by more sleep. You cannot make up for lost sleep on the weekends. Children who do not get enough sleep through the school week, and then try and sleep all day Saturday are hurting their growth and development. While it does make them temporarily feel better; the muscle growth, bone growth and neurological components of the human body need regular sustained sleep. Everyone has heard about the studies that children do better when they eat before school. This is true. And that was the impetus behind the school breakfast programs. However, studies now show that children who sleep well also make better grades and perform better on all levels. Some schools now are considering a later start. Kids, even and especially teens, need lots of sleep.
Too much sleep is rare for most folks, but if you can’t function with the routine of daily living because you sleep too much, then you definitely need to see a doctor because you very well may have a physical condition. If not, then you are probably clinically depressed and need to see a doctor. Either way, see a doctor if people tell you that you sleep too much. Each person however, needs different amounts of sleep. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep. Some are fine with 6. Less than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep begins to cause problems. Remember, when you can’t sleep: Don’t count sheep, but talk to the Shepherd.