To sleep, per chance to dream….
One of the odd side effects of having no thyroid and struggling with hormone balance is the overpowering desire to sleep. A lot. Often without warning. I have become the queen of the accidental sleep session. So much so that I’m now tracking my energy level daily in hopes of seeing any improvement.
We are NOT called to sleep
First Thess. 5:6 starts by telling us: “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do…” Let’s go back and grab verse 5 to see what the “Therefore” is there for: (v5) ”You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore…”
Is God commanding us through Paul to avoid rest? No! That’s just silly. Especially since a command to avoid rest by the same God who rested on Day 7 after 6 days of creation would be a direct conflict – a contradiction of the unchanging character of God.
No. God created us to need rest. We are the stewards of the earthly bodies He gave us. Our bodies require rest.
Don’t sleep on duty
Instead, we are instructed to stay alert. We can’t become so complacent in the world, surrounded by evil, that we coast along without sharing God’s love every chance we get. We are God’s kids – children of The Light. And, as such, we need to act like it.
Stay sober
Verses 6-7 continue: “BUT let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk at night.”
We must live a life that is easily distinguishable from the life that the enemy would have us lead. That’s the whole point. Our lives should be so different from the world that others will take notice.
Let your light shine. Stay awake. Stay sober. Now is not the time to sleep. Instead, work to Further the Kingdom and Glorify God.