Practical Ways to Overcome Insomnia - Bible Meditation1
When I was still in graduate school, I suddenly fell into severe depression and anxiety after a failed dating experience. The nerves in my head seemed to have lost controlled and I couldn’t sleep for three months. Every night, I would struggle in my bed trying to calm down my mind. But it would always run out of control and wandered restlessly. For a whole night, I would toss and turn painfully until the dawn.
I had tried different sleeping pills. But my mind would only rest for a while and started running around again. I hesitated to increase the dose as I was afraid that too much sleeping pills would damage my brain and I would lose a sharp mind to complete graduate study. I also heard other people’s saying that once you were dependent on sleeping pills, you would always be dependent on sleeping pills. That was just scaring.
I had prayed to God desperately for many times, but my situation was only getting worse. Without sleep, my body was wearing out and I was afraid that I would break down completely one day.
When I opened the bible, there were too many healing stories by Jesus, but my prayers to Jesus just didn’t work. Reading bible became a torment of my heart and I had to put it aside.
After three months, God began to show me a practical way to overcome insomnia. The process of breakthrough to get connected with God and start receiving guidance may be enlightening to many people who are still struggling to connect with God. But my heart now is in those readers who might be struggling with sleep problems tonight, I will share this practical way first here so that they can practice immediately. If there are people interested in how I made the breakthrough, I will share at a later time.
Here is what God told me to do:
Instead of just reading the Bible, I started memorizing some bible verses that touched my heart. When I went to bed, instead of trying hard to control my mind, I would start recalling those verses again and again and used them to pray to God. God’s words are truly powerful. After a while, my mind would rest completely and I could sleep for a whole night.
Before Israelites entered into the Promised Land, God shared a key strategy to Joshua:
Jeshua1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
“Meditate day and night”?
Some people may think that this is exaggerated. But it is exactly the strategy we should use to overcome sleep problems. And it is also confirmed by Psalm 1:
Ps.1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Ps.1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Ps.1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
When our minds are filled with the counsel/thoughts from the world, it is easy to lose focus and control. Eventually, we would lose the strength when we face a spiritual battle like insomnia. But if we meditate on His Words day and night, our Holy Spirit counselor would start guiding us using God’s Words, and we begin to gain strength and wisdom to overcome. Not only that, we would live a fruitful life!
This world is only getting darker and darker and there will be much bigger challenges than insomnia in the days ahead. If you have not done this before, please start memorizing God’s words and meditating on God’s Words to get you prepared.
If you don’t know which bible chapters to start with, you can start with the ones that helped me during those days:
2nd Corinthians chapter 1-5
Hebrew whole Book
James
Joshua chapter 1
Revelation chapter
You are also welcome to follow me to read, pray and meditate the bible with me on this website.
When I looked back, I felt so grateful that God laid a solid foundation on bible meditation when I was fighting with insomnia. Since then, I have survived much more difficult situations. Without constantly focusing on God’s words through meditation, it would be unimaginable. During these 15 years, God had taught me other practical ways to overcome insomnia and I have also helped many people. I will share one at a time.
Jesus, please give us grace to meditate your words day and night to gain spiritual wisdom and strength to overcome insomnia!
