"Abiding in the Word"

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—²⁸besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? ³⁰If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. ³¹The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying,” (2 Corinthians 11:23-31).

          Being an apostle was not an easy life. Among all the things that Paul said he suffered, one stands out as being a potential hazard for the Christian today. Namely, the part about: “in sleeplessness often…”

          Anyone who genuinely cares about the church will periodically lie awake at night unable to sleep. Potential causes of the insomnia are many: a wayward Christian who refuses to repent, a troublemaker who comes in seeking to tear up and split the church, a lost soul who refuses to obey the Gospel, a mission field situation where brethren suffer and struggle with their faith, members leaving a congregation in multiple numbers. All of these, as well as a multitude of other things, can cause the Christian to lose the precious sleep the body craves.

          In 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, Paul says similar things regarding the life of anyone who serves faithfully in the church: “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteous-ness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

          Bouts of insomnia are not absolutely required in living the Christian life. But they are common. Jesus often spent the whole night in prayer, or got up way early in the morning in order to be with His Father (Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35). Many times it is the same with us today. If we can’t sleep, at least we CAN pray.

          Our congregation is presently going through some things that can and do bring sleeplessness nights. This is not due to a lack of faith, but rather to a deep reservoir of love and concern for the flock here on the part of many. Through our long, dark nights of wrestling with these sufferings and struggles, let us turn to THE ONLY ONE who is able to help. Surely, His only begotten Son understands.

          The Bible says, “For so He gives His beloved sleep,” (Psalms 127:2). Some nights, like many in recent days, He doesn’t give His beloved much.

                                                                             - David Decker