When the Ceiling Stares Back
It was sometime after 2:00 AM.
The old box fan in the window clicked like a metronome—one of those little background noises you usually don’t notice until you’re trying really hard to fall asleep.
My wife’s breathing had slipped into that soft, rhythmic pattern that only comes with deep rest. The kind of rest that felt galaxies away from where I was.
I had prayed already. Twice. I had quoted Psalm 4:8. I’d tried the breathing techniques I read about online. I’d even counted backwards from 500. And still, my mind refused to shut off.
And I remember this strange, almost shameful thought creeping in:
“If I really trusted God… wouldn’t I be able to sleep?”
That’s when I realized—I wasn’t fighting sleep.
I was fighting fear.
Fear that tomorrow would be too much.
Fear that I hadn’t done enough.
Fear that if I stopped thinking—really stopped—I might lose control.
And there, in the dark, I didn’t need another strategy.
I needed a Shepherd.
A Christian Good Night Prayer (for the Wide-Awake)
Jesus,
I don’t have the words tonight. Not many, anyway.
Just this tired heart. And this overthinking mind.
And the weight of a day that didn’t go how I hoped.
You know every detail.
The things I said I wish I hadn’t.
The things I left unsaid that I can’t take back.
The news I got. The silence I sat in. The way the light in my chest feels a little dim tonight.
And still, You’re here.
You aren’t tapping Your foot, waiting for me to be better.
You’re not disappointed that I can’t “just trust more.”
You’re not ashamed of my weariness.
You sit beside me.
So I hand it over, Lord.
The questions I can’t answer.
The people I can’t fix.
The wounds I can’t heal.
The future I can’t predict.
The failures I can’t undo.
I give it all to You.
Wrap Your peace around my thoughts like the steady arms of a Father who isn’t going anywhere.
Guard my dreams.
Still my breathing.
Watch over the ones I love more than I know how to say.
And whisper into my soul what I so easily forget:
I am Yours. And You are enough.
Let me rest tonight not because everything’s solved—but because everything is surrendered.
I don’t know what tomorrow holds.
But I know who holds me.
And that is enough.
Amen.
Why I Needed to Write This
If you’re still reading, maybe tonight has been long for you too.
Maybe you’ve laid awake, not because your bed isn’t soft, but because your burdens are loud.
Friend, you’re not alone.
I’ve been there.
I still go there.
And I’m learning—slowly—that sleep isn’t a test of my faith.
It’s an invitation.
Not to ignore the weight I’m carrying—but to hand it over.
To trust that God is still working while I am not.
To believe that surrender is sometimes the holiest thing I can do.
A Truth That Tucks You In
Here’s what I remind myself when the silence stretches out and I feel like I’ve failed at rest:
God does not love me less on sleepless nights.
He is not measuring my faith by how fast I fall asleep.
He is not pacing the floor, waiting for me to get it together.
He is sitting beside me in the dark.
Still.
Present.
Watching.
Knowing.
And maybe that’s the whole miracle of it—
That the Creator of the universe doesn’t need sleep…
But chooses to sit beside me while I search for it.
Practical Ways to Let Go Tonight
If you’re struggling to settle, try this:
- Read Psalm 4:8 aloud. Not as a magic charm, but as a reminder of truth:
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” - Journal one sentence:
“Lord, tonight I surrender ________ to You.” Fill in the blank. - Pray the prayer above—slowly.
Pause between paragraphs. Breathe in. Breathe out.
Let the words sink deeper than your worry. - Text someone else who might be struggling.
Sometimes, helping someone else find peace is the very path that leads us there too.
A Final Word Before You Close Your Eyes
This isn’t just a blog post.
This is a hand on your shoulder.
A reminder in the night.
A voice whispering, “You’re not crazy. You’re not forgotten. You’re not faithless for feeling weak.”
You are held.
You are loved.
And He is still awake.
If this prayer brought peace to your heart tonight, would you share it with someone else?
You never know who’s lying in the dark, thinking they’re the only one who can’t sleep.
Enjoying this content? If you’d like to support my work and help me create more Bible-centered resources like this devotion, consider buying me a coffee! Your support means the world and helps keep this ministry going.
Reflect & Act
If this prayer helped you, take a moment to reflect. Write down what you’re feeling in a prayer journal—an invaluable practice for deepening your faith.
Here are some recommendations to support your spiritual journey:
- E.M. Bounds on Prayer – A heartfelt exploration of the power of prayer.
- The Power of a Praying Life – A guide to living a prayer-filled life.
- Praying the Psalms – Learn how to incorporate the Psalms, including Psalm 51, into your prayer life.
Also, consider journaling your thoughts after praying.
Here’s a beautiful prayer journal I recommend for capturing your reflections and prayers.
Explore More
Would you like to deepen your connection with God? Check out my other resources on faith, healing, and spiritual growth:
- Struggling with Prayer? Here’s Why It’s Easier Than You Think
- The Power of Intercessory Prayer: Standing in the Gap for Others
- Finding Strength in Difficult Times
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If you need someone to pray for you email me at rich.w.bitterman@gmail.com
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