5 Psalms for When You’re Facing Sleepless Nights

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
     for you alone, Lord,
     make me dwell in safety.

This verse is particularly special to me. I pray it over my son every night as a kind of benediction before sleep. In the book Prayer in the Night, author Tish Harrison Warren writes that nighttime and sleep can be fraught with anxiety for many of us because we subliminally know that we must relinquish control and face the unknown. 

Scripture tells us that darkness will one day be no more because “God will be their light” (Rev. 22:5), but right now, we live in this fallen, broken world where there is literal and metaphorical darkness. Anxieties, fears, grief, and more tend to be magnified at night, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by them. 

This verse’s affirmation that we can sleep in peace, knowing that God will keep us safe, is like a lifeline on those nights when our fears and anxieties loom large. Let this verse be a rock for you on those nights and rest assured that God can be trusted. 

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
 He leads me beside still waters
    He restores my soul. (vs. 1-2)

Psalm 23 may be the most well-known (and well-loved) psalm in the Bible—and for good reason. It speaks of the Lord’s gentle care for us. When we are facing sleepless nights, these tender words can be a balm to our souls.

Many people find that nature helps them regulate their emotions and find peace, calm, and strength to face the cares of the world. The imagery in Psalm 23 of green pastures and still waters evokes this sense of peace and calm as well—something especially comforting during a long, dark night. 

The psalm goes on to say:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
     I will fear no evil,
 for you are with me;
     your rod and your staff,
     they comfort me. (vs. 4)

Whatever the “shadow of death” is that we are currently facing, and no matter how large it feels in the darkest hours, we can trust that God will comfort us and we don’t need to fear.

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Psalm 91 is another popular psalm. It is the first passage of Scripture I ever memorized. Many of us grew up believing we had a guardian angel, and while Scripture is unclear on whether we each have a specific angel assigned to us, it is clear that God promises to commission his angels to protect us.

For he will command his angels concerning you
     to guard you in all your ways.
 On their hands they will bear you up,
     lest you strike your foot against a stone. (vs. 11-12)

Sleep can be frightening because we must relinquish control and allow our bodies to do what God created them to do, but this psalm reminds us in vivid language that God has got us. 

Earlier in the psalm, the psalmist declares:
 
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
     my God, in whom I trust.’” (vs, 2)

What a comforting reminder that our God is not only good and trustworthy, but strong enough to hold us through times of literal and figurative darkness.

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This relatively short psalm (eight verses) is ideal for repeating to yourself on sleepless nights. It’s worth reading the whole thing right now:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
     where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord,
     the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
     he who watches over you will not slumber;
 indeed, he who watches over Israel
     will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
     the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 the sun will not harm you by day,
     nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
     he will watch over your life;
 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
     both now and forevermore.

God doesn’t need sleep like we do, and he never ceases his vigil watching over us. He is constantly alert and does not become tired, bored, or distracted. This psalm assures us that, whether it’s night or day, the Lord is caring for us and will provide what we need. Our God is not a distant God—he is aware of our “coming and going,” and he takes an active role in protecting, helping, and comforting us.

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The first verses of this psalm speak to how the best human efforts come to nothing if the Lord is not a part of it. 

Unless the Lord builds the house,
     the builders labor in vain.
 Unless the Lord watches over the city,
     the guards stand watch in vain.
 In vain you rise early
     and stay up late,
 toiling for food to eat—
     for he grants sleep to those he loves.
 
 We may think we can prevent some calamity by worrying or being vigilant, but ultimately, God’s Will will prevail. This may sound discouraging at first glance, but, in truth, it’s the greatest comfort because it releases us from holding so tightly to our worries. In a sense, this psalm is an invitation to surrender our worries to the Lord, knowing that they are in supremely capable hands and that he desires to grant us sleep for our bodies and rest for our souls.

Prayer for Sleepless Nights:

Lord, here I am, awake again when the rest of the world seems to be sleeping. My body is restless, my mind is restless, and my worries are like wild horses, anxious to have free reign. I feel my inability to corral them. I need your peace desperately. 

When I am out of bed, seemingly for the hundredth time, rocking my baby who cries out for comfort, let it remind me to cry out to you, my Good Father. When I am lying in bed, restless with worry, facing yet another night of insomnia, let it draw me to you and your promises. When I am keeping a silent vigil at the bedside of someone I love who is sick or dying, let me find hope when it seems like there is none. When I wake feeling frightened and unsettled as if I am a child again, afraid of unknown monsters, remind me of your goodness and your strength. When I am awake when everything is dark and quiet, doing work that must be done, give me fortitude, purpose, and peace. I pray all this in Jesus; name. Amen.

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