“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.” — Psalm 127:2 (NRSV)

So often, when Christians speak of stewardship, we talk of money, talents, or time, and that is it. And yet Scripture reminds us that our bodies are also gifts entrusted to our care. In Romans 12, Paul reminds us that are bodies are to be offered as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. And so caring for our body is not vanity—it is HOLY work—it is faithful stewardship. Some might even say our bodies are temples of the Lord.

One of the most neglected aspects of stewardship in modern life is sleep.

Our culture often celebrates busyness. We admire those who work longer hours, answer emails late into the night, and function with minimal rest. Yet chronic sleep deprivation comes with significant consequences.

Modern health research confirms what Scripture has long taught. Chronic sleep deprivation is associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, impaired decision-making, weakened immunity, and burnout. These effects are seen across the population, including clergy, caregivers, healthcare workers, and all those they serve. Sleep is not a luxury; it is a fundamental component of human flourishing. And good quality, deep sleep is where human flourishing and stewardship of the Body intersect.

From a spiritual perspective, sleep deprivation can also become a subtle form of self-reliance. When we refuse rest, we may unintentionally act as though everything depends on us. Yet we follow a God who on the Seventh Day rested. We follow the God of Rest!

Sabbath, rest, and sleep remind us that God remains at work through the hands of others, even when we are not. This is particularly true in the Reformed tradition, which sees Sabbath primarily as an act of trust. When we rest, we acknowledge our limits and God’s sovereignty. Sleep is one of the most basic ways we practice this trust every day.

I would encourage you, particularly if you are an older male like I am, to talk to your health care provider about how you are sleeping. Perhaps the next step is to give yourself the gift of a Sleep Study. It has changed my life. Also, be more deliberate about your sleep in general, with our cell phones often a culprit of bad sleep patterns along with irregular schedules. Eat right and get good exercise. And finally, while the research is mixed on this one, there are some clinical trials that indicate low Vitamin D levels can affect sleep quality in many participants, and low Vitamin D levels is practically an epidemic in cloudy Ohio.

Tonight, consider whether your lack of rest is merely a scheduling problem or a spiritual one. Receiving God’s gift of sleep may be one of the most practical acts of faith available to us. Sometimes the holiest thing we can do is trust God enough to close our eyes.

-Matt

Prayer

Gracious God, teach us to embrace the limits You have woven into our humanity. Free us from anxious striving and remind us that Your work continues even while we rest. Grant us the wisdom to receive sleep as a gift, to honor our bodies as Your creation, and to trust more fully in Your sustaining grace. Amen.

References

1. Barnes, C. M. (2012). “Working in Our Sleep: Sleep and Self-Regulation in Organizations.” Organizational Psychology Review, 2(3), 234–257.
2. de Diego-Cordero, R., et al. (2022). The efficacy of religious and spiritual interventions in nursing care to promote mental, physical and spiritual health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Applied Nursing Research, 67, 151618.
3. Dorrian, J., et al. (2020). Nurses’ sleep, work hours, and patient care quality, and safety. Sleep Health, 6(3), 314–320.
4. Matricciani, L., et al. (2025). Sleep of Nurses: A Comprehensive Scoping Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(5), 2333–2344.
5. Medic, G., Wille, M., & Hemels, M. E. H. (2017). “Short- and Long-Term Health Consequences of Sleep Disruption.” Nature and Science of Sleep, 9, 151–161. Barnes, C. M. (2012). “Working in Our Sleep: Sleep and Self-Regulation in Organizations.” Organizational Psychology Review, 2(3), 234–257.
6. Owen, C. N., & Lach, H. W. (2025). Interventions to Improve the Sleep of Nurses: An Integrative Review. Western Journal of Nursing Research.
7. Parandeh, A., et al. (2025). Spiritual self-care in clinical nursing: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 9, 100407.