Are you tossing and turning through the night?  Are you always tired but never able to fall asleep? Does your mind start racing once it hits the pillow at night?  Don't worry; this isn't a blog about NyQuil®.  However, it is estimated that 40% of Americans are moderately to severely sleep deprived.  With all of the worries, concerns, and anxiety we face day after day, it can be difficult to get a good night's sleep, but God desires that we have rest.

In Exodus 33, Moses engages in a dialogue with the Lord and in verse 12 he begins to share some of his concerns.  He was instructed to lead a few million people, who commonly complained and wished for the yesteryears of Egypt.   As Moses deals with his inner turmoil, consternation, and stress of leading a people, the Lord replies in verse 14, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  God would give him rest in the land, rest among their enemies, and rest from his worries.

Here we see there is a direct correlation between God's presence and rest.  Does that mean that if I have sleepless nights, it means the presence of God is not with me?  Not necessarily, but it could point to the presence of other weights and burdens.  It is important to know that we don't find rest by ignoring every responsibility or concern we have in an attempt to live a care free life.  That will ultimately lead to even more sleepless nights and probably depression.  Moses couldn't just ignore his position of leadership and the needs of the people.  Instead, God desired for him to find rest in the very midst. 

So how do we find rest in the midst of our busy and stressful lives?  We find it in Christ, the Prince of Peace.  Peace, as one of the fruits of the spirit, is independent of circumstances.  Meaning, everything else can be going wrong around your life, but if you truly have the fruit of peace worked out in your life, then you will continue to have peace amidst the chaos.  There won't necessarily be an absence of chaos, but the presence of peace will overshadow the turmoil.  While bearing the sin of the world, Christ stood as the Prince of Peace, and if He lives in us and His presence goes with us, then we will find rest.

The best part is that the end result is so much greater than just a good night's sleep.  As you find rest, look for God to speak to you in dreams and visions in the night hours.  As you begin to find rest or have God speak to you in the night, be sure to share those testimonies with others.