It’s 2:47 a.m.
You’re wide awake.
Your heart is racing.
Your mind is doing cartwheels.

You’ve already prayed. You’ve already tried melatonin, podcasts, maybe even a midnight snack. Still—nothing.

And now, the question settles in your spirit like fog:
“God, is this You?”
Or is it the enemy trying to wear me down?
Or is my nervous system just stuck in overdrive?

If you’ve ever laid in the dark wondering if your insomnia is holy or harmful—this one’s for you.

Let’s break down the spiritual layers of sleeplessness and how to discern what’s really going on behind your restlessness.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

The Mother’s Day That Wrecked Me (In the Best Way)

Quick story:
This past Mother’s Day, I didn’t sleep for almost 40 hours.

Between a rain-ruined picnic, a surprise toothache, and my son waking up sick, my entire weekend unraveled. But it wasn’t just the chaos—it was the complete mental, emotional, and spiritual spiral that came with the exhaustion.

I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t shake the heaviness. I cried. I snapped. I felt like a different person.

And somewhere in the middle of it all, I realized:
This wasn’t just a bad night. This was spiritual.

So let’s talk about it—for both of us.

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When You Can’t Sleep, Ask: Where Is This Coming From?

Not all insomnia is spiritual. But sometimes … it is.
Here are 3 possible sources of your nighttime restlessness:

1. Holy Disruption

Sometimes, God wakes you up on purpose.
Think Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. Think Paul, praying through the night. Think Jesus, sweating blood in Gethsemane while His disciples slept.

God doesn’t wake us up to torture us. He wakes us up to tenderly invite us into something sacred: intercession, surrender, or deep listening.

So if you feel a spiritual nudge in the night, ask:

“Lord, if this is You—I’m listening.”

2. Spiritual Warfare

The enemy waits for vulnerability—and what’s more vulnerable than 3 a.m. anxiety spirals?

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us we’re not battling flesh and blood. Sometimes those midnight mental loops, those accusatory thoughts, that dread in your chest … they’re not yours.

Ask:

• Is this voice comforting or accusing?
• Is it convicting or condemning?
• Is it calling me higher—or tearing me down?

If it’s not aligned with the character of God, it’s not from God.

3. Human Exhaustion & Hustle Culture

And let’s be honest—sometimes we just drank caffeine at 5 p.m. or binge-scrolled until our brains couldn’t shut off.

Psalm 127:2 says, “He gives His beloved sleep.”
That means sleep is a gift—not a glitch. And if we’re ignoring our limits, living like machines, and calling it godliness? That’s not spiritual discipline. That’s burnout.

Sometimes the culprit isn’t Satan or sacred calling.
It’s blue light, late-night emails, or trying to do too much.

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How to Discern the Difference

If you’re laying in bed staring at the ceiling fan, here are 3 quick questions to ask:

1. Are my thoughts anxious or intercessory?
   Am I spiraling, or is God putting someone on my heart?
2. Am I drawn to prayer and Scripture, or stuck in fear and dread?
   If fear is leading the charge, it’s not the Lord.
3. Do I feel God’s presence, or just panic and depletion?
   Even in silence, His peace is near. If all you feel is frenzy, that’s a red flag.

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A Simple Prayer for Sleepless Nights

Lord,
If this is from You—I’m listening.
If it’s from the enemy—silence it.
If it’s just me—reset me.
Remind me that You are near.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Sleep as Worship: A Kingdom Reframe

Let’s be real—culture idolizes hustle.
We’re told that rest is weak. That we’ll sleep when we’re dead. That “Chanel eye bags” are a badge of honor.

But in the Kingdom?
Rest is holy.
Sabbath is sacred.
And sleep is worship.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8

Sleep says:

“God, I trust You to keep the world spinning without me.”

And that? That’s faith in action.

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When You Literally Can’t Fall Asleep

Okay, but what if sleep just … won’t come?
Here are 3 practical ways to worship through insomnia:

1. Repeat a Scripture-based breath prayer
   Try: “Be still and know that I am God.” Inhale truth, exhale tension. Psalms 46, 91, or 4 are perfect for this.
2. Play audio Scripture or instrumental worship
   Set the atmosphere with God’s Word. Let it wash over your mind and slow your body down.
3. Journal your burdens onto paper
   One line. One fear. One feeling. Offer it to the Lord and leave it there.

Even if you’re not sleeping, you can still be surrendering.

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Let’s Land This Plane

Your sleep isn’t the proof of your faith.
Your surrender is.

So next time the fan is spinning and your mind won’t shut off, ask:

What would faith do with this moment?

Would it:

• Turn off the phone?
• Choose prayer over panic?
• Ask for help instead of spiraling?

Whatever your answer is—let that be your next step.

And if you want weekly gospel-centered encouragement like this, check out the FaithPrint Club newsletter. It’s revival-ready email mentorship for Christian women who want to study deeply and live boldly—even in their most restless seasons.