Josiah Road

Friendly Neighborhood Insomniac - Part 1

posted by Daniel Blackaby 2Apr

Have you ever wondered about your limits? I remember seventh grade gym class and what they called, “The Endurance Test.” The test was simple; do push-ups until you collapse in a sweaty mess on the floor. The amount of push-ups done before the fall gives you your grade. I quickly discovered what my limit was! (Hey, nothing wrong with a good ‘ol C-, right?)

I think Christians have spiritual limits, too. When life is going well I trust God with everything and praise His name. But when things aren’t going so well I tend to struggle. Is there a point where you begin to doubt that God can help you or when you question if He’s even willing to help you?

Over the next three weeks I want to share my testimony of how I reached a breaking point, and how God used that situation to do amazing things, forever changing my faith and perspective on Him.

Around the time I was failing “The Endurance Test,” I began to develop another problem: I couldn’t fall asleep at night. I was assured this was a normal struggle for boys my age and that it would quickly pass. However, my insomnia didn’t pass… it got worse. And worse.

I would lay awake a little later each night, and I began to worry. I tried a smorgasbord of methods: sleeping pills and natural methods – massage, light therapy, exercise, and relaxation. My insomnia was worsening. Nothing helped. By now my parents were worried too, and they checked me into a professional sleep clinic. No improvement.

We asked the church and my youth group to pray. Believing in the amazing power of prayer, I was convinced my insomnia would disappear immediately. However, to my disbelief, it got even worse.

I reached the point where falling asleep before 6:00 a.m. was cause for celebration. I’d experience stretches of three to four consecutive nights without a minute of sleep. Life became unbearable; school became impossible, eventually forcing me to pull out and begin home schooling. Those long nights, sitting in my basement all alone, made me lonely, angry, and depressed. I couldn’t understand why God wasn’t lifting this burden from me and answering the many prayers for healing.

The Bible says Job’s circumstances brought him to his breaking point. His wife urged him to curse the Lord for all he’d suffered. (Job 2:9) Job refused, saying, “though He slay me, yet will I trust him.” (Job 13:15a). Job decided that no matter how tough life got, he would trust in God

Have you reached a breaking point? Are you committed to trust the Lord no matter what? When my insomnia reached its worst point, I decided to keep my faith, and God did tremendous things. Next week I’ll share how God responded to me in amazing ways!