Sometimes you just can’t help but appreciate the businesses that are open 24/7.
I mean seriously– just think about it… The places that are open round-the-clock are usually those businesses that are most important or that we have to use in emergencies. Hospitals, fire stations, police/law enforcement, some gas stations, some pharmacies (like Walgreens) and even Wal-Mart and Waffle House. (Granted, Wal-Mart and Waffle House might not be needed in emergency situations– but it’s still super convenient!)
I can’t help but be thankful not only for these modern-day services and conveniences– but also am so grateful that our God is a 24/7 kind of dude.
He’s always there. Always accessible. Never closed, never out of reach. Always ready to help.
Which is great for the nights when I can’t sleep– and those nights seem to come more frequently the more pregnant I become. (Plus I heard some nasty rumor about parenthood taking away your regular sleep patterns… so apparently this non-sleeping-during-nighttime-hours is supposed to get more intense once baby arrives. 😉 )
This middle of the night can’t sleep issue happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I awoke right on schedule for my regular 3am preggo bathroom break. (Sorry if that’s TMI…) But as I headed to back bed, I had a realization that made my heart sink– my brain had woken up. It was in high gear.
Crap. (Pardon my language.)
Granted, I DID have a lot on my mind- and heart. Just a few hours before, I was in my first ever car accident and was still pretty wound up from that. Now I was faced with the prospect that this new little one was going to show up in our lives in a matter of weeks– and we probably needed to purchase a new car before that point. Oh, and did I mention we are planning to move 2800 miles to a new duty station within the first few months of this baby’s birth? No pressure.
But yes, my woman brain kicked into alert state. Which woke up this growing baby-child in my belly. I sighed heavily and took my sore hips and racing mind downstairs.
I grabbed a light snack since my stomach was growling, then laid down on the couch, hoping that things would settle down. After a few minutes, I knew I was going to have to call for help.
I was desperate. So I called in reinforcements. I started to pray.
It wasn’t prayers of just “Jesus, PLEASE help me go to sleep.” But I started running through all of the stuff in my life that was on my heart. I prayed for a preggo pal who although we were due within days of each other, had already given birth to her baby prematurely a couple of weeks prior. I prayed for a friend who was facing having a tough conversation with her parents about faith. I prayed for our family mission statement. I prayed for God to take my tension away and replace it with peace. I prayed… and prayed… and…
Next thing I know– it was no longer 3:47am. But I awoke that Thursday morning semi-ready to face the day– during “normal” business hours.
I’m so thankful that God is always open for business and ready to listen, save and help.
Have you every had trouble sleeping? What is your remedy? How does God being available 24/7 change your relationship with Him? Better yet… how can it improve or encourage your relationship with Him? Don’t be shy… leave a comment below!
When the weight of this world is pulling you down– or keeping you from peace– or disrupting your sleep pattern– remember, dear friends… that God is always accessible. Always ready. Always here to help.
Now THAT’S what I call being open for business 24/7.
Finding peace in His presence– at all hours of the day,
SGK
“The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” ~Psalm 46:7 NIV
