When God Seems Asleep - Martin Wiles

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38 NLT

He was asleep; I was his boss.

After a short layoff, the mill called me back as a floor sweeper on third shift in the cloth room. When a chance for a supervisory position opened, I applied and got the job. The superintendent hired Derek to replace me.

The floor sweeper job was simple, but Derek didn’t enjoy sweeping. He did, however, enjoy sleeping.

As I made my nightly rounds to make sure everything and everyone was okay, I found Derek sleeping in various places. Once, I discovered him rolled up in a small roll of second’s cloth. I warned him. Another time, I found him asleep at the inspectors’ desk. I gave him a final warning, “One more time and I’ll send you home.”

His final time came soon thereafter. As I made my rounds, I saw Derek asleep … again … at the inspectors’ desk. I sent him home. The superintendent fired him. Derek didn’t seem to care about the cloth falling all around him. He just wanted to sleep.

To the disciples, Jesus seemed unconcerned too. All day, Jesus had taught about God’s Kingdom by telling stories to a huge crowd of people. He suggested to His disciples that they cross the lake and leave the crowds. Tired from the day, Jesus did what tired people do: slept. Only He slept while the disciples battled a storm that threatened to sink the boat.

Like Derek, Jesus didn’t seem to care about what was happening around Him. The disciples awoke Him, and He calmed the storm. What appeared as a big deal, wasn’t.

I’ve also endured situations where it didn’t appear God cared what happened to me—as if He was asleep in heaven while I struggled on earth.

When I face those experiences, I go to God’s Word, and I remember past experiences. Whether I’m awake or asleep, God remains awake. The great Father of heaven never sleeps or slumbers. Even when we can’t see His hand at work in our situations, He is working—and always for our good, never our detriment.

Not only does God govern our lives, but He also governs the world. All things are under His control. In the theological world, we call this His omnipotence and His omnipresence.

When God appears unconcerned about your life situations, remember He never is.

Prayer: Father, thank You for never sleeping or ignoring our life’s struggles.

Tweetable: Does it appear as if God has gone to sleep on you? 

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The Covering - Martin Wiles

The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles. 1 Kings 8:7 NLT

Without it, I feel exposed, vulnerable, afraid.

When I was a young child, I wanted cover. Even when I stayed with my maternal grandparents in their old farmhouse that had no air conditioning. The summers sizzled, but I had to have a sheet covering part of my body. 

At fifty-eight years of age, I still want cover. With a house that has central air and heat, I could adjust the temperature so I wouldn’t need cover, but I have to have it.

And when camping, I want cover. During the hot summer nights, I snuggle in the sleeping bag rather than lay on top completely exposed. As if the sleeping bag would protect me from a bear.

Having cover over my tent is also a good idea, especially if I purchase an inexpensive one that is water resistant rather than waterproof. Putting a tarp over the tent keeps the water out should it rain. I’ve had enough experiences to know what happens when the tent doesn’t properly shield water. A soggy sleeping bag, mattress, and clothes aren’t enjoyable. Neither is mopping up water from the tent floor. Or feeling the drops splattering against my face while I’m trying to sleep.

King Solomon knew the importance of cover, too. After building the Temple, he had the priests and Levites bring in the various pieces of furniture that would occupy it. Among them was the Ark of the Covenant—the holiest piece that contained the Ten Commandment tablets given to Moses and the piece that represented God’s presence. The priests placed it in the Holy of Holies under the wings of two cherubim whose wingspan reached from one side of the room to the other. They covered the presence of God.

As His children, God promises to cover us. When life is confusing, disappointing, and depressing, and we can’t see which way we need to travel. When the bills are more than the income, and we don’t know how we’re going to pay the rent, mortgage, internet, satellite, or electricity and water. When the relationship—or marriage—has gone sour and the door slams never to open again. Or when the children seem out of control, rebellious, and hopeless.

Whatever comes our way, God promises to cover us with wisdom, strength, hope, and peace.

Let God cover you, so you can face whatever comes your way.

Tweetable: Have you been covered by God?

Prayer: Father, we take the cover You provide so we can endure the trials of life.

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Waking Up God - Martin Wiles

Wake up, my God, and bring justice! Psalm 7:6 NLT

I come from a family of nappers.

Power naps. The men on my father’s side of the family believed in them. When supper was over and the kitchen cleaned, my grandfather would sit down on the couch to watch the news or a football game. Several minutes later, his head was bowed.

My father’s profession allowed him time to nap during lunch. And he did. When lunch was over, he retired to the recliner where he took a fifteen-minute nap. No alarm clock was needed to awaken him.

I’ve followed in the tradition. When I can, I take a power nap after lunch. In twenty minutes or so, I wake up. I know how to take a nap.

My wife, on the other hand, doesn’t. Although she claims she is going to take a nap, she really means she is going to sleep for two hours. Waking her goes something like this:

“Hey, babe. It’s time to get up.”

“I’m awake,” she says—followed by snoring.

“Are you gonna get up?

“Give me 30 more minutes.”

After thirty minutes, “Hey, babe. Your thirty minutes are up.”

After several episodes of this, she finally gets up. 

God doesn’t sleep—or even take naps. But it seems as if He did to the psalmist. He was being falsely accused of trying to kill the king and take the throne. Although God had selected David as the next king of Israel, David needed God to wake up and deal with his accusers.

God’s time frame is different than mine. To me, it may appear He’s sleeping when in reality He’s only napping. He sees the injustices in the world and those committed against me by others—as He did David’s, but I must trust Him to act according to His timetable, not mine.

What appears as bad or an injustice to me might not to Him—so He naps. I normally thought my parents’ punishments were bad for me but later learned they weren’t. I have to trust God to do what’s best as my heavenly Father.

Nor is revenge mine. David could have dealt with his accusers, but he chose to ask God to instead. God says revenge belongs to Him, not us.

In times of trouble, call out to God. But remember, He never naps or sleeps, and He is always concerned about what concerns you.

Tweetable: Do you ever go to sleep on God?

Prayer: Father, thank You for always coming to our rescue, even when it appears You are sleeping and unconcerned. 

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Flashback Friday - Living with a Clear Conscience - Martin Wiles

Living With a Clear Conscience

I once knew an elderly gentleman who loved to say, “I don’t have any trouble sleeping because I go to bed with a clear conscience.” I suppose his nightly Benadryl didn’t hurt any, but I got his point. And having watched his lifestyle, I knew why he slept well. 

The conscience is a wonderfully designed part of our human makeup through which God’s Spirit works to let us know when we’re on the wrong path. I’ve not always lived with a clear conscience, but I’m getting better at it as I get older and learn how to let Christ live through me. As peer pressure wanes and spiritual maturity grows, my conscience doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it once did. Read more...

Tweet: Don't let an unclear conscience ruin your life. 

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