Several years ago, my kids gave me a Fitbit for Christmas. I began using it to monitor my sleep and discovered that I was getting less than I thought. Although most nights I stayed in bed for eight hours or so, I was only asleep for an average of six hours.&nbsp;My sleep time was reduced by the time it took me to fall asleep. I woke up and went back to sleep several times during the night, further reducing the time I was sleeping. Often, I was not even aware of this.Both Scripture and science tell us that enough good quality sleep is important for maintaining good mental and physical health.&nbsp;<h2 id="2d6f26a5-7503-4a9e-b223-55ab78af40c3" data-toc-id="2d6f26a5-7503-4a9e-b223-55ab78af40c3" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;">Sleep Is When Repair Happens</h2>Sleep isn't downtime. While you sleep, your body is busy repairing itself, and your brain is sorting and storing what you learned during the day. Deeper non-REM sleep does much of the physical restoration. REM sleep plays a large role in processing emotions and consolidating memory. You need both.Here is an exciting and promising finding – although it is not yet a settled one. Your brain also appears to use sleep for housekeeping. Researchers have found that the brain's waste-clearance system is more active during sleep. In a randomized crossover trial with 39 participants, glymphatic clearance during normal sleep raised morning plasma levels of Alzheimer's biomarkers compared with sleep deprivation.The science is still developing. Specialists are debating how much brain cleansing during sleep drives conditions like Alzheimer's.&nbsp;<h2 id="dc43f4c9-a180-4e04-babe-0ced5eeeebdc" data-toc-id="dc43f4c9-a180-4e04-babe-0ced5eeeebdc" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;">A Biblical Perspective on Sleep</h2>Scripture treats sleep as a gift from God. It is a resource that God uses to sustain and restore us.During a particularly stressful time in his life, when he was facing much danger, King David wrote, “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.” (Psalm 3:5 ESV) The word samak, translated “sustained” in this verse, suggests that God was actively supporting and upholding David.This process is illustrated in the life of the prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 19:1–8 describes a time when Elijah opposed the prophets of Baal – which angered King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Queen Jezebel was so angry that she threatened to have Elijah killed.The prophet, fearing for his life, fled in despair, and soon collapsed in exhaustion. God restored Elijah by letting him sleep, sending an angel to wake him with food, and then letting him sleep again. The nutrition and sleep gave him the strength that he needed to complete a difficult journey that God wanted him to complete.This is the first in a short series on sleep. Next time, we'll look at what happens when sleep runs short.&nbsp;<h2 id="7e80aac6-c008-4353-8375-aa4a08e4d1c6" data-toc-id="7e80aac6-c008-4353-8375-aa4a08e4d1c6" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;">Is Your Sleep Sufficiently Restorative?</h2>When you look at the past week, has your sleep reflected God's restorative provision, or has it left you feeling exhausted and depleted? What is one small change that would protect your rest starting tonight? I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can share them with me by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hpaulstanleycoaching.com/contact-dr-stanley/">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;<div style="text-align: center;"><hr></div>Did you find this helpful? Would you like more — but not too much more?Once every two weeks, I send a short, practical article focused on living a less stressful, more abundant life — helping you maintain life balance and grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially over time.You can subscribe by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hpaulstanleycoaching.com/stress-relief---life-balance-news-tips-opt-in/">clicking here</a>.

Ever wonder if you're really getting restorative sleep? Discover what happens in your body while you sleep, what Scripture says about rest, and why it matters more than you think.

More Than Rest: How Sleep Repairs Your Mind and Body (Sleep Series, Part 1)

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More Than Rest: How Sleep Repairs Your Mind and Body (Sleep Series, Part 1)

More Than Rest: How Sleep Repairs Your Mind and Body (Sleep Series, Part 1)

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