Sleeping is something that I am horrible at. This has been true for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was terrified of the dark, had horrible night terrors, and was just anxious about sleeping in general. Beside my bed was a picture of a puppy with a Bible verse, ‘Be Still and Know’ Psalm 46:10.

I remember laying in bed, terrified at the thought of closing my eyes, and just staring at the picture. I memorized that verse, and I used it to soothe myself. To me it was God saying I needed to relax, breathe, He is with me, and He is greater than anything that could hurt me, to have faith. I would fall asleep every night to that verse, and that puppy.

Many years later, and I still hate the dark, too many bad things happened in darkness. I seemed to have gotten used to the night terrors, so they bother me less, now it’s arthritis and a mind that hates to slow down that keeps me awake. It takes a long time to fall asleep, but there is less anxiety, because I still recite Psalm 46:10. It is the verse I use when I’m frightened, anxious, feeling hopeless, lonely, and angry. ‘Be Still and Know that I am God.’ God is always with us. He is the greatest comforter, when we allow Him to be.