Skip to main content

Sleeping Peacefully

John 14:23-29 Common English Bible (CEB)

23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Is there anything better than a baby falling asleep on you? I’ve gotten to experience that a lot lately, and I forgot how peaceful it is to have a baby fall asleep in my arms.

And it happens in stages … First you noticed them squirming a little less, you feel their muscles relax, then you hear a change in the rhythm of their breathing, and all at once they are asleep — soundly, happily, peacefully.

That is a different kind of peace.

I feel like, possibly because of the life stage I am in, I’m searching for peace a lot. At times, there doesn’t seem to be a quiet moment, or a moment without some sort of chaos. But I find myself constantly praying for peace. Because God is the one that can provide the kind of peace similar to a baby falling asleep in your arms.

I imagine when we fall asleep praying at night, God feels like we do when have a baby fall sleep in our arms.

So I never feel guilty for dozing while praying. I pray for peace, and God calms my heart enough to fall asleep — prayers answered!

When was the last time you felt God’s peace relax your heart and calm your spirit? Did it happen in stages? How might you get back to that place of receiving God’s healing and rejuvenating peace?

Emily Nelson Dixon
Director of Teen Ministries and Outreach

Tags: Weekly Word