https://odb.org/2026/05/25/finding-rest-4
2 Samuel 15:23–27 (NIV): 23 The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness. 24 Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons.
“Tactical napping” is a series of guidelines for soldiers for effective, ten to thirty minutes of sleep. While experiencing a rush of adrenaline, loneliness, or anxiety, sleep-deprived soldiers may not be able to relax. Tips include using earplugs and reading before bed.
It’s when we most need rest that it’s often difficult to find. King David experienced this after fleeing into the wilderness to escape his son Absalom’s treason. It was around this time that David cried out, “Lord, how many are my foes!” (Psalm 3:1). Perhaps thinking about past troubled nights, however, David continued, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear” (vv. 5-6). David realized that God, not Absalom, was in charge of his situation. David even sent the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, acknowledging that the future was fully in God’s hands (2 Samuel 15:25-26). (Karen Pimpo, Our Daily Bread Condensed 25th May 2026)
Being able to sleep is one of the few blessings we have as a human being. This is because sleep gives us rest and rejuvenates our body. However, I believe many have difficulty sleeping and getting proper rest. We are exhausted from the day’s work and yet as we retire to bed, we struggle to sleep and when we wake, we still feel tired and exhausted! Alas, not everyone wakes up refreshed and properly rested. That is why it’s a blessing! Those of us who have trouble sleeping may end up catching just maybe an hour or two of sleep although we may have been lying in our bed for 5 to 6 hours!
It could be a personal characteristic but usually trouble with sleeping comes from either lack of physical activities (like lying on the sofa almost the whole day) or anxiety and worry. For the former, pursuing an active lifestyle will tire us out so that when it’s time for bed, we are ready to just crash and get our well-deserved rest and sleep! I realise that swimming is one of the best sport to pursue as it works out most of our body muscles. I always find that I get hungry and sleep very well after a swim. Leading a sedentary inactive lifestyle may not only result in difficulty in sleeping but may also lead to health issues like insulin resistance and diabetes.
For the latter reason of anxiety and worry, our best remedy is always to trust God to be with and for us. We do our best but let the Lord do the rest. Trust in Romans 8:28 NIV – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” David was in great distress when he fled, with his followers, from his own son, Absalom. He even brought the Ark of the Covenant with him. But in the end, he sent the Ark back to Jerusalem believing that God is in control of the situation and not Absalom. If God wanted him to be King, He will restore him to his rightful place despite what Absalom was doing. There is just so much we can do as a human being, it’s best we leave the rest to the LORD and His wisdom and grace. Let’s pray and commit to God an outcome that is in His will and fulfils His plans and purposes for our lives.
Pursue an active lifestyle and trust in God. I believe that’s the remedy that will work for 99% of us. If the issue still persists, perhaps it’s time to seek professional help. There could be an underlying health issue.
Ronnie's Thoughts 