September 17: Sleeping the Night Before
Tomorrow you’re facing someone you hurt badly. You’ve been staring at the ceiling for an hour. Every possible version of the conversation is playing in your head. Will you get any sleep at all?
“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”
David wrote this psalm while running from his own son, Absalom, who was trying to take his throne. Thousands were against him. And he wrote, I laid down and slept. I woke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me.
If David could sleep with an army chasing him, God can help you sleep the night before an amends.
Anxiety the night before is normal. Your mind is trying to prepare by running through every scenario. But it’s not actually preparing. It’s just spinning. The preparation was done earlier, with your sponsor, in daylight. Tonight, the job is rest.
Try handing it over in a concrete way. Write down what you’re going to say tomorrow. Then write down your fears about it. Then put both in a drawer and close it. Say to God, “This is Yours tonight. I’ll pick it up in the morning.”
A few practical things help too. No caffeine late in the day. A warm shower. A short walk in the evening. Reading a psalm before bed instead of scrolling. Slow breathing, with a simple prayer on each breath. “The Lord sustains me.”
If you can’t sleep, that’s okay. You can still rest. Lie quietly. Pray for the person you’re seeing tomorrow. Pray that they’d sleep well too. Pray that the conversation would help them.
And remember what you’re going to do tomorrow is a good thing. You’re not walking into a trial. You’re walking into an act of love. Whatever happens, God will be there, like He was for David.
One thing today
Tonight, write down tomorrow’s amends and your fears about it. Put the paper away. Then pray Psalm 3:5 slowly as you lie down.
A prayer
Lord, I’m anxious about tomorrow. You sustained David with an army chasing him. Sustain me tonight. Let me lie down in peace and wake up ready. Amen.
Preparation for each amends is part of Step Nine, and so is rest.
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