Insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep related issues are real problems that many people face. People who have sleep issues can also have a variety of health issues. Sleep we know is a gift from the Lord, a good gift to be treasured and enjoyed. In his new book And So Bed… A Biblical View of Sleep, Adrian Reynolds shares what the Bible teaches about sleep, rest and how that affects not only how we sleep, but how we live.
And So To Bed is only six chapters long. In chapter one the author seeks to show how many people struggle to sleep well and how that affects the rest of their lives. Here the author notes that a lack of sleep highlights “the effects of this on people’s lives, including a difficulty maintaining healthy relationships, low mood during the day and difficulty staying awake during the day” (15). Chapter two seeks to explain how the Bible views sleep by teaching that “sleep is part of our created humanity and the willingness to lie down and sleep is itself an expression of trust and faith in a sovereign God” (26). Chapter three looks at the unchanging God who calls us to rest in Him who needs no sleep. Chapter four looks at how sleep is an earthly picture of a spiritual reality. Chapter five seeks to provide answers to a good night’s sleep. The final chapter looks at how sleep is a gift from God.
Before I drift off to sleep at night I pray and thank the Lord for the day. I cast my burdens on the Lord, pray for my family, friends, and local church. I then tell myself something like the following: “Dave, today is over, along with all of its challenges difficulties and failures. Lord Jesus I trust You to cleanse me and purify me from my sin. I confess my need of you and repent of any sins I’ve committed today. Thank You that Your blood cleanses me of my sin. Help Sarah and I to sleep well as we rest in You tonight. Thank you Lord.” As the author of And So To Bed talks about in his book, sleep is a good gift from the Lord. We lay our heads down to sleep and confess our need for Him by resting. We don’t know if we will awake to another day or not but we do know where we are going as God’s people to heaven.
Working hard and resting well come from the same source—God. God provides the fuel by which we go and the ability to lay down and sleep. Sleep therefore as the author noted is part of our created humanity. Whether you struggle with sleep or you sleep well, And So To Bed will help you to understand the source of our rest, God, better. I highly recommend this insightful book and believe it will help you to better understand not only the health issues related to sleep but also what the Bible teaches about sleep and resting in the Lord.
Buy the book at Amazon
or from Christian Focus.
Title: And So To Bed… A Biblical View of Sleep
Author: Adrian Reynolds
Publisher: Christian Focus (2014)
I received this book for free from Christian Focus for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
