THINK ABOUT IT            7-31-24

 When God Doesn’t Give His Beloved Sleep
This one of the most unusual subjects I’ve ever mentioned on Think About It. But knowing this is a matter of concern to so many people I couldn’t resist the thought that some might benefit from what blogger Tim Callie’s wrote. He said:

One of the simplest of all skills has evaded me for much of my adult life. One of those skills that most babies master in their earliest days seems to have mostly passed me by. One of the most basic of all talents has become my greatest battle.

I’m referring, of course, to sleep. Though I’m really good at falling asleep, I’m extremely poor at staying asleep. And, as I’m sure you’d agree, the staying is every bit as important as the falling! When night comes and bedtime draws near, I always face it with a mix of eagerness and dread—eagerness to get some rest but dread of waking up before I get enough rest. More often than not, I sleep for a time, then wake up in the wee hours—too tired to feel rested but too rested to fall back asleep. I often begin a new day discouraged, with my mind hazy and my brain sluggish. It’s a battle that has gone on for decades and one that is getting no better as I age. In fact, it could actually be getting worse.

I’ve long observed that insomnia is one of those afflictions that everyone else knows how to cure—everyone except the person experiencing it. Have you tried chamomile? Melatonin? Adjusting the temperature? Lowering the humidity? Cutting caffeine? White noise? The Calm app? Of course I have. I’ve tried all of that—I’ve tried the fringe and the mainstream and everything in between. None of it works for long or for good. Sleeping pills may work their magic, but that’s no long-term solution since they inevitably lead to a cycle of increased dosages providing diminished effect. So what to do?

In biographies, I’ve often noticed the connection between great men and short naps. Often those who accomplish the most are able to work until they are tired, then have a nap of twenty or thirty minutes and awaken feeling like a whole new man. That hasn’t proven an option for me. If I lay down for a half hour, I’ll spend the first 15 minutes in self-pity and the second in self-loathing. I’ll eventually give up and feel worse than I did when I began.

In Psalm 127, Solomon calls God’s people to labor with diligence, to expend their lives working toward those things that matter, for work is vain unless it is done for the Lord. “It is in vain that you rise up early / and go late to rest, / eating the bread of anxious toil.” And then he adds this: “for he gives to his beloved asleep.” And I wonder: But what about those times when he doesn’t give his beloved sleep?

I often think of all I could do if I wasn’t so tired so much of the time. I think of the extra capacity it would give me—the capacity to write more, read more, serve more, and do more. I think of how that kind of capacity is so close at hand, just an hour or two of sleep each night and my days would be transformed. Yet despite many prayers and much pleading, God has not seen fit to give it. I may go through brief phases when I sleep better, but a new bout of insomnia is never far away.

So I have decided I ought to receive this as God’s will—as a reality to be accepted rather than resented. After all, who am I to resist what God seems to have decreed? It is within his capacity to give me the sleep I crave. It would be no struggle for him to grant me a solid seven or eight hours each night. But that does not seem to be his plan for me. And so in this, as in so much else, I bow the knee to him.

That doesn’t mean I won’t keep praying and won’t keep trying—praying for sleep and trying to get better at it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try the next herbal concoction someone recommends as the one that changed their life. But it does mean that I won’t let myself feel like God doesn’t care about this or that it represents some kind of failure on my part. For I have long observed that as much as we always want God to strengthen us so we can do his will, he often chooses to weaken us so we can do his will. As he makes clear in his Word, his power is better displayed in human weakness than in human strength. And sometimes, I guess, that means in fatigue rather than in rest. Either way, it falls to me to trust that he loves, that he cares, and that he knows best.”

THINK ABOUT IT

When you can’t understand God’s ways, trust His heart!

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, TX

I’ve discovered that during difficult days It helps to defeat discouragement by thinking about the things for which I’m thankful. I was recently thinking about God’s blessing on our church when something came to mind that you might not have ever thought about. The word balance comes to my mind.

 I’m familiar with a lot of churches, and as you might expect, they are all different some are made up almost entirely of old folks and few of any other age group. Others are just the opposite. They consist mostly of young families with few seniors, and no ministries for that age group. This list could go on and on but I’ll stop and tell you what is on my mind.

When I consider our church I think about the blessing of balance. We have a lot of older folks who are pillars in the church. Having faithfully provided a firm foundation for it, others in the church have the benefit of their godly example to follow.

We also have a core group of faithful members between 30 and 60 who have taken up the banner and doing the work that others can’t do. They are the kind of people you can count on, giving assurance that the church is in good hands.

In addition to them we have many young adults who not only have remarkable potential but are presently involved in ministries right now.

Then we have a good group of teens and younger children who love the Lord and are helping out in various ministries already. Watching them grow is a great blessing.

Lastly we have a good number of children and ministries designed for them led by dedicated teachers and leaders working with them.

Along with all this God has moved us from a back street that was hard to find to a prime location with beautiful facilities, all paid for.

Here is one more thing I want to mention. I have always hoped that when I have to step down that the new pastor would be someone from within our church, sparing the church of going through the process of trying to find a new pastor. God has answered my prayer. Although it is the church’s decision, I believe Bro. Preston has proven himself to be that man. Please read Phil.2:20-22 if you want to know how I feel about him.

When I think of all of this, it makes me thankful for what God has done,  is doing and will do. This is a dream come true for an old pastor, who knows when he is gone the church will carry on better than ever. Although we are far from perfect, the same God who brought us thus far will be with us during the most trying of times. He who has never failed will not fail.

In this day, when so few churches are standing true to God’s word, and so many are dwindling and dying we are should be exceedingly thankful  for God‘s blessings on us. I don’t expect everyone to appreciate what I’m talking about as much as some others. That’s  because this church is the only reference point they have. Not being familiar with other churches they assume it’s like this everywhere, but they’re wrong. Some churches are barely holding on , trying to keep the doors open and others are departing from the faith, and some are divided by contention. So when we think about the faith of those who have brought us thus far, the faithfulness of those who are involved in our ministries, the financial security we enjoy, and the focus of our vision minded members, our future looks bright.

It is my firm belief that one reason that God has blessed this church so much is the fact that I don’t know of any church that has taken better care of its pastors than this one. Hebrews 13:17 says,” “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” That is exactly what this church has done. For 37 years I have joyfully pastored this precious church.

But let us never forget that all these blessings are due to the grace of God. He alone deserves the praise! Let us then never cease to worship him in spirit, and in truth. “ As Paul said, “unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬. THINK ABOUT IT!

Your grateful servant in Christ,
Bro. Stone

I just finished writing the Pastor’s Pen for Sunday. In it I make a reference to the importance of time and not wasting it. As I was writing I couldn’t help but think about last Sunday (7-21-24) when I couldn’t preach. So the following is what I wrote to myself. Perhaps it will speak to you as well:

It’s Sunday morning, a time when I would soon be leaving for church and looking forward to preaching. But here I sit in my recliner with my pajamas on. It’s another one of those days when I’m not able to preach – days that I dread. All I feel like doing is sleeping, but I can’t even do that. So I sit here listening to the sound of the neighbor mowing his yard – a sound I hate. Although that’s a minor matter I feel like screaming “SHUT IT OFF!.

To sum it up, I’m discouraged because I couldn’t preach. But I am disappointed with myself for not practicing what I preach. Let me explain. It’s easy to prepare a sermon on how we should behave when we are disappointed, it’s another thing to do it. At the moment I’m making a failing grade.

I tell myself, it’s not like I’m asking for fortune, fame, or something foolish. I just want to preach – what God called me to do.And, yes I know if God wanted me to preach this morning He would enable me to do so. But, for the moment, the disappointment is still here.

However, even as I struggle with this, I know there is a good side to the story. I am reminded that God is in control and I’m not. God forbid that the opposite were true. Another positive is that I’ve been through this before and I know from experience that God can turn it around and give me victory. He can help me to be disappointed without getting discouraged. I’ve lost track of the times He has done so.

But, there’s something else that I am forced to face in times like these. I’m talking about the fact that the best is yet to come. And, as the old song says, “There’s no disappointments in heaven”. Thank God for that! Another old song says, I’m home sick for heaven I’ve got a longing to go”. If you think it’s out of place to feel that way you need to read Rom. 8:18-23. Please do!

Yes I am home sick for heaven, but as it was with Paul, I glad to stay on this earth as long as I am needed. However long that might be is God’s business.As long as we are on earth we will face disappointments, but we must not allow them to discourage us to the extent that it deters us from our duty. God is bigger than all your problems, so trust Him to give you victory, even when it seems impossible. Think about it!  – HDS

David Stone  
Lakeway Baptist Church  
Humble, TX.

THINK ABOUT IT            7-12-24