When Control Keeps You Up at Night
Sleepless and Stuck in a Mental Spiral
There’s a unique kind of exhaustion that comes not from activity, but from anxiety. It happens late at night, when your body is tired, but your mind won’t shut off. You lay in bed replaying conversations, double-checking tomorrow’s to-do list, and wondering how it will all get done. The truth is, you’re not resting—you’re wrestling. And you can’t surrender control through rest, if you’re not resting.
Control feels safe until it steals our peace. But REST—Release Everything, Surrender Totally—offers us another way. It gives us permission to stop carrying what was never ours to begin with.
The Night I Couldn’t Make It Stop
A few years ago, I was facing a major decision—one that affected my family, finances, and future. I had prayed, planned, and talked it through a dozen times. But still, I couldn’t sleep. Every night I tossed and turned, consumed by what-ifs.
One particularly restless night, I opened my Bible to Philippians 4:6–7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…”
I had prayed—but I hadn’t truly released. I was still gripping the outcome. So I sat up, lit a candle, and whispered, “Lord, I surrender. I trust You with what I cannot fix, control, or force.”
I journaled every worry and asked God to carry each one. That night, for the first time in weeks, I slept in peace.
Surrender Control Through Rest—Not Because You’re Weak, But Because He’s Strong
Surrender is not giving up. It’s giving over. When we surrender control through rest, we’re not quitting—we’re trusting. We acknowledge that God is better at being God than we are.
Jesus modeled this in Luke 5:16:
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Even the Son of God paused. He didn’t rush decisions or run on fumes. He made time to be with the Father—and we’re called to do the same.
Journaling offers a space for reflection and release before bed. When you get one with prompts for confession, surrender, and gratitude, it helps transition your thoughts from control to confidence in God.
Creating a Rhythm of Release
To surrender control through rest, try:
- A nightly release prayer: “God, I give You what I can’t carry.”
- Journaling your worries, then writing a truth beside each one
- Creating a 30-60-minute screen-free wind-down routine
- Meditating on a verse like Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
These aren’t quick fixes. They’re sacred rhythms that lead to peace.
Let Go So You Can Rest
If control is keeping you up at night, it’s time to release your grip. Surrender is not weakness. It’s worship. And when you surrender control through rest, you make room for peace, clarity, and the presence of God.
Let Him carry what you were never meant to hold.
