How To Get Out of Bed When Sorrow Makes You Sleepy

Whether you suffer from a life-long struggle with depression or you simply live life on this earth, most of us have known seasons of sorrow. These are those times when life just seems unbearable and you must battle to just even take another breath. One of the ways our bodies often deal with the stress that deep despair of mind heaps upon us, is to sleep. This morning as I read my Bible. I noticed something I had previously failed to see.

After the event we know as the Last Supper, Jesus headed out to the Mount of Olives, where He goes into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. I always knew that this was a deeply distressing time for Jesus, as He was about to go to the cross where the Holy, sinless Son of God, would become sin for us, paying the ultimate penalty we deserve. Read here Luke’s account of this event.

Luke 22:39-45
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.  And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,

I had always looked at the disciples in this story as simply lazy bums, who leave their Lord alone in the garden to pray while they sleep. But Dr. Luke tells us that they were not just tired and lazy, they were sleeping for sorrow. They were broken within themselves. They were depressed, despairing, and probably felt a loss of hope. Not only had they finally woke up to the fact that Jesus was about to die, they had just learned that one of their own would betray Him. But even worse, Jesus had also told them that they too, would abandon Him in this hour of need. I get it. How often my own sin has reminded me of my own experiences of failing Jesus.

Maybe this very morning, you have woken up from sleep wondering how you will get through this day. Sorrow, despair, and feelings of failure permeate your mind. The truth is, this is of the devil. It is a spiritual attack. We are at war with our enemy the devil and he will tell you that all that despair is deserved and that there is no hope.

But Jesus has an answer to these times of sorrow and depression. He knows they are temptations of Satan, who does not want us to turn to God in these times, but instead he tells us to pull up the covers and just go back to sleep. If Satan can keep us in bed sleeping, he knows we will be ineffective as Christ’s disciples. So, listen to what Jesus has to say to us.

 Luke 22:46
“Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Rise and pray that you might not enter into temptation. Jesus speaks not only with authority here, but also with the credibility of knowing true sorrow. As Jesus faced the most sorrowful event ever in human history, He, like us, was in agony. Dr. Luke describes it; “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down.”

Prayer is the answer to rising out of the ash pit of true despair. It was the means by which God empowered Jesus to say, “Not my will, but your will be done.” For God hears the prayers of those who are His when they in humility come to Him in their despair. God even sends help.

Luke 22:43
And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Hebrews 1:13-14
And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

When we face the trials and temptations of this life, we can go to our Father in Heaven and He will give us the strength to face the day. He will even send angels to help strengthen us.

The story of Jesus in the Garden is a story of both sorrow and of victory over that sorrow. But we must pray and as Jesus did, pray fervently and earnestly. We must, as Jesus did, submit ourselves to the sovereignty of God having faith in the fact that He will bring us through.

I hope this morning; whatever trial you face you will wake up and go to your knees. Pray. And don’t be afraid or too prideful to ask others to pray for you. I will. Just let me know what prayers you need.

Be blessed.