The hardest thing to do when you are in a bad situation can be to sleep. In the midst of his trial with Absalom, David said, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). David knew the LORD would take care of him, but like everyone else, he had difficulty sleeping.

David had to make a conscious effort to calm down and be at rest. His way of handling sleeplessness was to talk to himself. David’s advice was to “commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:4). The word translated still, dâmam (daw – mam´) means to be dumb or speechless and by implication to be astonished (1826). David was referring to his tendency to underestimate God’s ability. David had to remind himself that God could choose to do a miracle at any time and turn the situation around completely.

Sometimes waking up in the morning can seem like a miracle. You close your eyes at night thinking surely the world is about to come to an end and then you wake up and realize you are still alive. David said, “I laid me down and slept, I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (Psalm 3:5).