Proverbs 19:23

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” NASB

According to numerous surveys, America is a “sleep deprived” nation. In 1942, 59% of Americans reported getting eight hours of sleep per night. In 2023 that number was down to 26%. One in five get five hours of sleep or less per night.

One of the biggest factors contributing to lack of rest — physical, spiritual and mental calmness — is stress. But what’s curious about the Proverb above is that it draws a connection between the fear of the Lord and rest.

The Hebrew word for fear is “yirah”. It primarily means a profound respect or reverence, in the context of a relationship with God. “Yirah” is considered the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

“Life” (Hebrew: chay) was seen as a divine gift from God. “Chay” was not only a biological state but also a spiritual condition, reflecting one’s relationship with God; understood as a blessing, a sign of God’s favor — often associated with obedience. This resulted peace and prosperity.

Finally “sleep satisfied” or in some translations “rest”, refers to the spiritual satisfaction that comes from a relationship with God, Who is the ultimate provider of life. This satisfaction comes from resting, lodging or abiding (spending the night) with our Provider.

All three words have roots in our relationship with the Lord. So I’m going to ask you some probing questions related to your relationship with God that I had to ask myself:

How often are you aware of, or have a sense of God throughout the day? Or is He only a thought at mealtime? Is your fear (yirah) of Him profound and deep, or superficial? Do thoughts of holiness translate into changes of your daily thoughts and behavior, or do the thoughts of holiness resemble water rolling down a duck’s back? Is obedience something you actively strive for, or just a nice concept to talk about on Sunday at church? Finally, how much time do you give the Lord each day? Do you spend quality, undisturbed time with Him, or do you give Him a quick “2 – minute update” on your needs for the day?

These are hard questions to answer honestly, but so crucial to achieving true “rest” in our lives (physical, mental and spiritual calm and tranquility).

In Matthew 11:27-30, Jesus tells us to “come” to Him and He will give us rest. The word “come” is an imperative or command with a sense of urgency. Given that He knows the Father and all things have been given to Him, it just makes sense follow this command — with urgency. And when we approach Him, we need to show profound, deep, reverential respect for Him. The result will be a rest that goes beyond physical rest, but will include peace and refreshment in Christ, during your most stressful times.

Do you want a good night’s sleep? Well, it starts with an intentional acknowledgment of Who He is. Fear the Lord first, and then receive the life and rest from our ultimate Provider.