Jesus Gives To His Beloved Sleep

Sleep is a blessing. Like any other blessing, it can be partaken of to the point of idolatry: “How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” But those of us who take this truth seriously are often in danger of living restless lives; we regularly eat the bread of anxious toil and give ourselves no grace for fear of sudden calamities that might befall us. But Jesus gives to His beloved sleep. Because our Shepherd watches over us, we can lie down in green pastures; because the Lord is our heavenly watchman, we need not stay awake in vain. Although He calls us to watch and pray that we might not fall into temptation, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He who rested on the seventh day and rose on the first will empower us to enter into the eternal rest that He purchased for those whom He loves. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free—freedom from toil, drudgery, and weariness. In heaven Jesus will give eternal rest to our souls, and allow us to enter into the joy of our Master by resting from all our works forever, just as He rested from His!