100 Days with David 2025 Day 4: If the Lord is with you, you can rest in peace.

100 “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I remember that when I was a child, I sometimes dreaded for night to come. You see, if I had been scared by something during the day, I could put it out of my mind. But it seemed with the stillness of the night, it would come back to me, manifesting in bad dreams and restless sleep. Sadly, for many people, troubled sleep doesn’t end with childhood.

I remember my mother saying that when she went to bed at night, all of her fears would come back to her mind, and then she would worry. Why? Because during the day she was busy with her responsibilities and the clamor of life. But the stillness of the night, without all those distractions, allowed that nagging fear to manifest itself.

When inquiring about someone’s worst fear(s), the question is often asked: “What keeps you up at night?” Apparently, sleep disturbed by worry is ubiquitous.

Doing a cursory look into the cost of insomnia, I found that it adds nearly 100 billion dollars per year to the cost of the healthcare system in the United States. Imagine the cost worldwide! But, the potential monetary drain pales in comparison to the drain on productivity—and on a personal level—to one’s own sense of well-being. Now, whereas this is all factually true, it should not be true for the child of God.

In today’s opening passage, we see David expressing the fact that he can rest in peace, rest with confidence, knowing that although he is asleep, the Lord is awake, watching over him. David also expresses his ability to rest in the Lord elsewhere in his psalms such as we see here:

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As well, this confidence to be able to rest in peace is echoed in two of the songs of ascent. (Psalms 120 - 134 are considered “songs of ascent,” apparently sung as worshipers climbed the hill towards Jerusalem, or on other pilgrimages.)

One of these psalms is credited to David’s son, Solomon.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭127:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ (Solomon)

Solomon reveals that restful sleep is a gift from the Lord to His beloved.

In this song of ascent, we hear the assurance of God’s never-blinking, watchful eye:

“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Lord once spoke to me that there are two dangerous mindsets. One is that of “sufficiency outside of God.” Surprisingly, the other is “insufficiency in God.” Now, we readily recognize that going it on our own, acting according to our own will and understanding, is very dangerous. However, we may fail to understand how dangerous it is to be in Christ and still are fearful and unbelieving.

Of course, many people, even Christians, struggle with laying aside the troubles of the day as they lie down to sleep. But if we truly believe—as did David—that the Lord is our Shepherd, then we should also believe that He leads us into the green pastures of His provision, care, and keeping. If He is not with us, we have every reason to worry. But, if He is with us, we have every reason to have confidence that He is taking care of us as He has promised!

Child of God, the sentiment to “rest in peace,” should not be reserved for the dead. They have either attained eternal peace or eternal distress. However, we who are living, desperately need to rest in peace now by remembering that the Lord is watching over us.

As part of the Lord’s dear flock, we don’t find peace by counting sheep. Rather, we find our peace and rest by looking at our wonderful Shepherd.

For today let us know and understand what David knew:

If the Lord is with you, you can REST IN PEACE!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!