4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalms 3:5

Explanation:

David was certainly dealing with circumstances that would cause high levels of fear and anxiety. Certainly people in lesser circumstances have lost sleep when dealing with worry and fear. You see three steps in this passage. 

1. Crying. This describes a passionate kind of prayer born out of difficult circumstances. He prayed passionately and trusted that God heard him.
2. Sleeping. Verse 5 tells us that after he prayed, he went to sleep. The implication is that through prayer he placed his trust in Christ. He did not lose sleep over his situation. He laid down and slept.
3. Waking. He woke up. Everything was fine. He made it through the vulnerability of the night and sleep. How did it happen? He attributes it to the Lord by saying, “for the Lord sustained me.”

Application

What an incredibly practical example for us. We deal with anxieties and pressures. We deal with worries. If you don’t have any worries you must not be watching the news. There are certainly events and information that could inflate our fears. David’s example reflects what Paul through the Holy Spirit commends and commands us to do in Philippians 4:6-7.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

When the Lord keeps our hearts and minds as a result of the peace of God coming through prayer and trust, then we are in a place where we can sleep again! Trusting God and receiving His peace is so much better than worry.

Response:

I’m going to spend some extra time in prayer today as I let my fears and worries drive me to my knees. It’s so much better than worry!