Do you ever have trouble falling asleep?
Have you ever laid in bed awake for hours?
If so, you are not alone.
In fact, it’s currently 3:30 in the morning.
Falling asleep and staying asleep is something I seem to be struggling with more and more. And here I am awake again. There’s nothing on my mind, it’s just alert.
And I know this struggle isn’t unique to me.
Whether you have trouble falling asleep because of racing thoughts, or your body just doesn’t sleep well, the struggle is real. It’s also not uncommon to find meme’s about how husbands can fall asleep in a second while their wives lie awake.
Years ago, I compiled a list of Bible Verses to help you sleep (I titled it Good Night Scriptures). However, it wasn’t so much Bible verses that really helped me fall asleep, it was just some I read before going to bed.
As I laid in bed awake one night earlier this year, I wished I had been more intentional. I needed my mind to stop, and I thought how helpful it would be for me to memorize a few Scriptures that would actually help me sleep.
If you are memory impaired, that thought might feel daunting.
Valerie posted a great article on how to memorize Scripture when you’re memory impaired here.
Tonight (or this morning?) I just got tired of lying in bed awake.
Thus, I thought I’d share three things that help me fall asleep. This isn’t a magic formula by any means, but these three things have consistently helped me fall asleep and stay asleep.
3 Tips to Help You Fall Asleep
1.) Pray
First and foremost, I pray and ask God to help me fall asleep. If something pops into my mind demanding attention at 2 AM, I surrender it to God in prayer.
2.) Listen to Scripture
I’ve been listening to the Bible for a couple years now with the YouVersion app. If I’m ever lying awake and can’t sleep, I’ll often turn it on and concentrate on the words. The reason I love YouVersion for this instead of an audio Bible is that YouVersion reading plans require to you check off that you finished the day’s reading. So I never fall asleep and miss huge sections of the Bible. I can easily go back and re-play the one-three chapters I slept through.
3.) Meditate on God’s Word
Finally, meditating on God’s Word can help still my racing thoughts. I want to share four of the verses that have helped me the most.
Check out these 3 tips and 5 Scriptures to help you fall asleep Click To Tweet
4 Bible Verses to Help You Sleep
1.) John 14:27
Peace is what I leave you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
John 14:27
The reminder that Jesus gives us peace often calms my racing thoughts. I don’t have to depend on completing my to-do list to help me sleep at night. I can rest secure knowing everything is in God’s hands.
2.) Psalm 4:1, 8
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:1, 8
When taking my racing thoughts to God in prayer, it always helps me to remember Psalm 4. God can give me relief. He hears my prayers. I can sleep knowing God is with me.
3.) Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
Do you ever need a reminder that tomorrow will come soon enough? I sure do. Staying awake worrying about things doesn’t accomplish anything. What I really need is sleep so I can tackle tomorrow’s trouble head on when it comes.
4.) Psalm 46:1-3, 10
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling… Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:1-3, 10
Finally, the reminder to be still is one I often need in the middle of the night. I don’t need to get up and do whatever comes to my mind. I simply need to trust that God is God of all, and I am His.
What Bible Verses Help You Sleep?
Do you have trouble sleeping? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below. What helps you rest peacefully when you’re awake in the middle of the night.
Click here to download the printable Scriptures to help you sleep.
This is a beautiful post! I pinned it to come back to, because I love to fill my mind with scripture.
That’s great, Michele!
It’s the old hymns, every verse, that come to my mind and settle my spirit and body so I can sleep …
That is fantastic, Linda. I used to sing myself back to sleep with Christ-centered Christmas songs.
I fall asleep like a rock but often wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep. I’ve tried everything, but what seems to work best is Podcasts…until they go to commercials, then those wake me up. Why are commercials always louder? I’ve even tried listening to a scripture reading that is supposed to help you fall asleep, but that one kept waking me up because there were too many long pauses in-between verses. I think maybe I need to find a different scripture reading one. Thanks for all the ideas. Visiting from Grace and Truth Link Up. Pinned.
The commercial thing drives us nuts! Thanks for stopping in.
“Whether you have trouble falling asleep because of racing thoughts, or your body just doesn’t sleep well, the struggle is real. It’s also not uncommon to find meme’s about how husbands can fall asleep in a second while their wives lie awake.” So true! I think it’s hormonal.
Thank you for these scriptures, Heather. Several verses that help me, “When we lie down, we will not be afraid; when we lie down, our sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24 NASB and Psalm 91.
It could be!
Heather, I love this!! Beautiful verses that you chose and I love the images! sharing it on twitter for others to be encouraged too!
Thanks, Mariel!