I Rest Securely

READ: PSALMS 16:7-11; 139:1-12; ISAIAH 41:10; 1 JOHN 1:5

I lay to rest, where do my thoughts go?

To dangers, to darkness, to fears

Though there’s no light around me

I can see the light of my great God

My heart pushes me to find my God

To seek Him with prayers as I try to sleep

I set my eyes on the One who saved me

Fears can do nothing to shake me

Securely, I rest in the hands of God

Knowing my Father holds me with love

When thoughts turn back to darkness

I put a stop to them, staying in light

The joy of my God fills my whole being

Joy that pushes out the fear and doubt

I know who holds me and loves me

I rest because I’m securely held by Him • Emily Acker

• Sleep is an important part of our physical, mental, and emotional health. Sometimes, we need help in order to give our bodies the sleep we need, and that’s okay. If you’re having difficulty sleeping, who is a trusted adult you can talk to, such as a parent, counselor, or doctor?

• Do your thoughts ever keep you awake at night? We all experience this from time to time, and God has so much compassion on us. As Christians, we can know that God is always with us, holding us securely. Jesus our Savior is the Light of the world, and darkness can never overcome Him (John 1:5; 8:12). Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave for us, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). And His Holy Spirit lives in us, reminding us of His promises and empowering us to give our worries to Jesus and turn our thoughts toward the hope He gives us (Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Peter 5:6-11). Do you have any favorite Bible verses that give you comfort and help you turn your thoughts to Jesus when you’re feeling unsettled?

• Sometimes, we experience thoughts and feelings that are too much for us to handle on our own, even by praying and reading the Bible. But God wants to help us in lots of ways, including through other people such as medical and mental health professionals who can help us figure out if what we are experiencing is worry, anxiety, or something else. It’s important to remember that we all need help from others, and it’s okay to be honest about our struggles. If you find yourself feeling afraid, stressed, or worried a lot of the time, or if your thoughts keep going to dark places or “what if” scenarios and you can’t seem to stop, who is a trusted adult you could talk to, such as a parent, pastor, teacher, or counselor?

• If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one-time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service. In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7 (WEB)