Productive Sleep

[Dan Crawford]

I confess that sometimes I fall asleep while praying on my bed at night. I have often felt guilty of this, especially when I wonder how excited God is about my prayer, when I can’t even stay awake to complete it. On other occasions, I feel OK with it, since sometimes God responds to my prayer while I sleep, and I awake refreshed, with a new answer. After all, the Psalmist says that God, “Shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4).  Furthermore, since God is awake while we are sleeping, “He gives to His beloved even in his sleep” (Psalm 127:2).  I’m not alone. For instance, as far back as the late 1800s Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as “The Little Flower of Jesus” and one of the most popular Catholic saints of the early 20^th century, wrote in her autobiographical manuscripts, “A Story of a Soul” that she often fell asleep while praying. She was of the opinion that like all parents, God probably loves His children best when they are asleep.  She also popularized the theory that if you fall asleep while praying, your Guardian Angel finishes it for you. I'm not so sure about the angel part, but it is good to have company in falling asleep while praying.  I’ve seen this idea on t-shirts, bumper stickers, coffee mugs, and posters, and it’s been attributed to any number of authors/speakers.  I’m not sure who originated it, but I like it: Some fall asleep while counting sheep, I prefer to fall asleep talking to the Shepherd. Give it a try.