I see it all the time on social media. People posting how they can’t sleep. Exhausted, stressed, tossing and turning in their beds in the middle of the night or extra early in the morning. How do you combat that? What do YOU do? Do you lay there upset and complain about being sleepy or do you get up and do something constructive?

Recently I started reading through my Bible again. It has been a while since I have gone through all the books of the Bible. I have been having a calling to start my readings over for more than a year and I kept putting it off.  Why? Because it is a great commitment? Because GOD will probably reveal somethings that are hard for me to take? Because there will probably be a lot of tears shed?  I am sure the correct answer is, all the above.

There are several things that have resonated with me this time in my reading. One of the main things is how GOD walked and talked with the people In the Bible! They heard his voice and some even saw his face! (Genesis 3:8, 18:1, Deuteronomy 31:15) They didn’t have to wait to get to Heaven for it! They were given step by step instructions on what they were to do. The first 5 books I just marveled at the thought! How awesome and how blessed are they! I sure wish GOD would give me step by step instructions. I sure wish I had that kind of guidance for my life. I have made a lot of mistakes and it is going to take a miracle of GOD to help me overcome those mistakes. Business mistakes, money mistakes, health mistakes, mindset mistakes, marriage mistakes, parenting mistakes, I can go on and on…Can you relate?  It is easy to feel alone. To look at others and think, “They really have their life together. They have been so lucky! What makes them worthy and not me? How did this happen? What did I do wrong? Do you not love me as much as you love them LORD?” You beat yourself up. You feel sorry for yourself. You are a victim of circumstance or worse…your own choices.

While reading through the 6^th book, Joshua, I had an awaking!!!  We are all blessed with the same things if we believe! Really believe, have FAITH and trust! We all have choices to make in life…choose wisely. Funny how I have chosen well in some areas and not in others. I go to prayer for some things and not others. I give certain aspects of my life completely over to GOD and not others. STOP the madness! Go to prayer with all things, BIG and little! Give all things to GOD! There is nothing that is too BIG or too small…NOTHING!

I usually don’t have much trouble going to sleep at night. I have however been up extra early a lot lately.  I used to lay there and feel sorry for myself. Now I see it as an opportunity to spend time with GOD, and listen to his voice. I get up out of bed! I grab my Bible and my journal and I see where GOD leads me. I have prayed for this! I have prayed for eyes to see his purpose around me and ears to hear his voice. I write in my journal, I read my Bible, I pray and today I write. I am becoming a student of the WORD and teachings. I am beginning to see the blessing in my insomnia. I don’t see it as insomnia at all any more. It is a calling!

I am excited for the remaining books in the Bible! I can’t wait to see what is revealed to me. One of the many great things about the Bible is you will have different things revealed to you each time you read it. Things will be revealed related to where you are in your life right now. Your life will have many facets and many chapters, each is equally important to who you will became and where you will go. Our journey in life is unique. Trust and grow in the good, the bad and the ugly. Seek out the lessons and the gifts in each stage. It is often hard to find the gift and blessing in the things that bring us pain. You must dig deep to pull it out. Prayer, scripture and mentorship is needed. Trust the process and know that it will all be revealed to you when you are ready to receive it.

Next time you have trouble going to sleep, woken in the middle of the night wide awake or woken early in the morning take it as an invitation from GOD. He is seeking you more than you are seeking him. He loves you unconditionally and completely. Just like any relationship, YOU must nurture it. He cannot talk to you if you do not listen.

My prayer for anyone reading this: LORD I pray for all that read this to be blessed with the eyes to see you and your purpose and the ears to hear your voice. Thanks be to GOD! In Jesus Name, AMEN!

 

Ashleigh Wyatt

Girlfriends Guide to Grace