NOVEMBER 4

Philippians 4:7

More than an hour after Lisa went to bed, she had not fallen asleep yet. She tried everything she could think of to relax her mind, but nothing worked. Finally, she slipped out of bed and went to find Mum.

“Mum, I saw an advertisement on a website about sleeping pills,” said Lisa. “Do you have any? Can I have some?”

“I don’t have any, and I don’t think it would be good for you to take anything like that anyway, Lisa,” said Mum. Lisa sighed. She had thought Mum might say something like that.

“But, I just can’t get to sleep,” she complained. “You’re probably worried about the exams tomorrow, aren’t you, honey?” asked Mum, giving Lisa a big hug.

Lisa nodded. She felt better just having Mum close. “It makes me nervous,” she said, wishing she could tell her Mum exactly how she felt but she could not put her emotions into words. “I’m afraid of what may happen,” she added.

“Commit the exams to the Lord,” Mum told her. “We need to keep praying, and after you have done your best, just leave the rest to the Lord.”

“Sleeping pills might make our bodies go to sleep,” said Mum, “but, let me suggest a much better kind of ‘medicine’ for our nerves. At times like this, I know of only one place to go for help.” Mum picked up her Bible and opened it. “I’ll read one of my favourite passages to you. It’s Philippians 4:4-9, and I think it will help both of us.”

As Mum read out loud, Lisa noticed that the Bible verses encouraged her to pray. Most of all, Lisa liked God’s promise of peace.

Mum prayed when she had finished reading. She asked God to calm their nerves and give them rest.

“I think I can go to sleep now,” Lisa said as she hugged Mum. “Thanks for reading those Bible verses to me. That was good nerve medicine.”

Thought: Are problems upsetting you? Are you afraid of exams, or of the dark? Where do you go when you need help? The next time you have trouble sleeping, remind yourself of God’s everlasting love and watchful presence.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are times when I cannot sleep because I worry about things. Help me, Heavenly Father, especially during those times, to lean on You, to remember the verse that the peace You give will calm and keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.