Sleep Theology
An Excerpt from David Murray's book, Reset
One of the best resources I’ve read on the relationship between spirituality and self-care is David Murray’s book, Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture. The short excerpt below comes from his chapter on rest. In particular, I appreciate the closing section of the chapter where he mentioned a “Sleep Theology.” I hope you enjoy it!
Ultimately, sleep, like everything else, should lead us to the gospel and the Savior. First, it prompts us to think about death, that we all shall close our eyes as in sleep, and wake up in another world (1 Thess. 4:14).
It also teaches about our Savior. The fact that Jesus slept (Mark 4:38) is as profound as “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). It reminds us of Christ’s full humanity, that the Son of God became so frail, so weak, so human that he needed to sleep. What humility! What love! What an example! What a comfort! What a sleeping pill!
It illustrates salvation. How much are we doing when we sleep? Nothing! That’s why Jesus used rest as an illustration of his salvation. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
It points us toward heaven. There remains a rest for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). That doesn’t mean heaven is going to be one long lie-in. It means it will be a place of renewal, refreshment, comfort, and perfect peace.1
Like others, you may be struggling to find rest. You are always tired and weary, working more than your body can sustain. You toss and turn at night, weighed down by the cares of the heart. My prayer for you today is that you would receive Psalm 127:2: “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
CBH
David Murray, Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 70.