Struggling with sleep? Powerful biblical truths and championing gratitude can help

They say tech has a lot to answer for. In times gone by, we’d all be alone with our thoughts as we laid in bed at night. Now, we’re bombarded with smartphone alerts and glowing screens all around us. Rings, pings and buzzes.

There might be truth in that, but for many people the alternative is worse. The lives that a lot of us have been living, particularly with the backdrop of the pandemic, affects our thoughts all day long. Many people try to get to sleep quickly at night, but their thoughts are full of worry, anxiety, and unrest. Even those who know the truth found in God’s word can be distracted by the immediate obstacles they see in front of them. That doesn’t make God’s word any less true or powerful. It’s just that sometimes, we need to have it reinforced and deeply planted into our hearts when we need it most.

I started 2021 by experimenting with sleep meditation apps. There’s a choice of services that provide sleep stories, meditations, and soothing sounds. I found some of them to be helpful, and I’d use them occasionally on my wireless Bluetooth headphones to get to sleep. It was only when I got the divine inspiration to create my own solution that I went from being a consumer to an active creator.

I found that when people show gratitude it reduces stress, which in turn helps people to fall asleep.

I created Sleeping Saints in April last year. It’s a Christian sleep meditation podcast that gives listeners something to help them fall asleep that’s rooted in God’s word. I found that when people show gratitude it reduces stress, which in turn helps people to fall asleep. I made Sleeping Saints rooted in gratitude and positive affirmations that are perfect to listen to at bedtime. I wanted to make it simple, clear and with as little Christian jargon as possible. It had to be accessible so that it’s encouraging without engaging people’s brains to the same extent that a full-blown sermon would. It is all about getting to sleep after all!

Producing a fortnightly podcast as a one-man band isn’t easy but the feedback has been uplifting. It’s been helping to get people off to sleep quickly. Sometimes they’re in the land of nod within minutes, so they never get to the end of an episode in one sitting. The podcast is doing its job and that makes me happy.

I’m advocating for the power of biblical truths in calming our minds.

But my goal here isn’t to tell you to listen to my podcast (although it would be nice if you did). Instead, I’m advocating for the power of biblical truths in calming our minds. I’m championing gratitude as an effective weapon to drown out the negative forces that keep us awake. Our lives aren’t perfect, but we have an eternal hope for tomorrow that drives us through each day.

I’m gradually trying to reduce the number of gadgets and gizmos that surround my bed at night. But the one thing I’m keeping is the access to audio that reminds me of what God says about me in His word. He only says good things about me and that’s what helps me to go to sleep at night.

You can find Sleeping Saints on all podcast platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Jermaine is a presenter on Premier Gospel.