Ever stay up all night worrying? Sure, according the alarm clock on the night stand, you should be asleep, but your mind is racing with all sorts of problems and dilemmas. You toss and turn all night wondering what the morning will bring. How will that situation turn out? What in the world can you do about it? Uncertainty and doubt plague what should be your time of rest.

The next morning is even worse. Now, not only do you still have all the problems you spent last night worrying about, but now you are tired and irritable!

David did not have that problem here. Why? You would imagine that with all he went through (Goliath, Saul, Bathsheba…), there would be many a sleepless night. But David enjoys rest here for one lone reason—The LORD sustained me. The world is full of problems, but we have a Lord who is sovereign over them all. He loves His children and diligently keeps watch over them all. The problems are present, but so is God’s sustaining power. Forget about counting sheep, remember all that the Lord has done for you. Find your rest in His strong yet loving arms.

Have you ever thought about that one phrase stuck in the middle? “I awaked.” Well, since David is writing, we assume that to be true. Seems a bit unnecessary to even mention it. Yet, God would not take up precious space in His Holy Word to include meaningless phrases.