17 Bible Verses On Sleep & Rest
Use these 17 Bible verses on sleep and rest to calm your worry and anxiety down for the night and sleep in peace.
Having trouble sleeping?
I feel your pain.
In college, I started taking melatonin every night…and I continued to do that for a full decade (if you are doing this, please make sure to read my post on why NOT to take melatonin every night!).
I’ve now been experiencing debilitating insomnia for six years since getting pregnant with our first son. I know how miserable it can be to desperately need sleep, but feel like it’s always just out of reach.
Of course, there are a lot of pieces of our physical health that affect sleep (you can read my advice for that piece in my 10 Tips For A Better Night of Sleep post) but don’t discount the mental and spiritual aspects, as well.
If your mind is racing with worry and anxiety, it is so difficult to even rest, much less fall asleep.
God knows how real that struggle is for you and His Word talks about it.
Read on to see Bible verses about sleep and also how God can offer you rest on your most stressful nights.
17 Scriptures On Sleep – What Does The Bible Say About Sleep?
Get A Printable Version Of These Verses
1. Psalm 3:5 – The Lord Sustains Me
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
Psalm 3:5
Sometimes, even when we do all of the right things, our bodies still don’t sleep.
There was a season when this verse frustrated me because I wasn’t getting sleep. I wasn’t waking because I wasn’t sleeping.
It didn’t feel like even my basic human needs were being provided for.
For me, it was helpful to remember that we live in a broken world. My body is imperfect. In that brokenness, I have an opportunity to point that ache toward the glory of eternity with God, my soul panting for Him as it does for water (another basic human need).
And, even on my worst nights of 20 minutes of interrupted sleep, God did provide for me.
He has sustained me.
This Psalm is such a beautiful reminder of God being our Jehovah-Jireh, our provider of everything.
2. Psalm 4:8 – In peace, I lie down
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8
What a beautiful picture this verse paints – being able to sleep in peace because the Lord is protecting us, keeping us safe.
I know when David was writing the Psalms, he was often in physical danger, but he also talked about his emotional distress often and I can sure relate to that.
My worries, anxieties, fears, and “what-ifs” are really good at interrupting my sleep, but even there, “you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Such comforting reassurance.
3. Psalm 127:2 – He grants sleep to those He loves
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 127:2
I love thinking about sleep as a gift of God’s outpouring of love to me.
He created us to work but also to rest and when I can allow myself to experience that rest fully, it sure feels like a precious gift to wake up feeling rested and rejuvenated!
4. Proverbs 3:24 – Sweet Sleep Scripture
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Proverbs 3:24
I had a friend in college who used a phrase to say goodnight that I’d never heard before. She’d say, “sleep sweet” before heading to bed at night.
I’ve used that phrase myself ever since and now I say it to my sons before every nap and bedtime. I just love it.
Sleep doesn’t have to just be your head hitting the pillow or some monotonous part of your routine every night.
It can be sweet – something to be savored, something to look forward to, sink into, and enjoy.
5. Ecclesiastes 5:12 – Work Hard, Sleep Sweet
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
I love this idea laid out in Ecclesiastes that hard work produces sweet sleep and I think it has been backed by research I’ve read, as well.
When we work hard during the day, we sleep harder at night. Things like exercise, movement, cooking, and all different kinds of work during the day can help produce sweet sleep at night.
But those lazy days? On the days when I sit around, watch TV, and don’t really do anything at all, I struggle much more to fall asleep.
I love that God created us for both of those purposes – work and rest – and that they fuel each other.
Scriptures On Rest – What Does The Bible Say About Rest?
6. Exodus 33:14
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
Laying awake at night can feel so lonely. It feels like the rest of the world is sleeping and you, alone, are laying there wide awake.
Even though I know God is always with me, I love every reminder Scripture gives in every circumstance. The Lord is with you and will give you rest.
7. Psalm 23:1-3
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3
When I’m struggling to fall asleep at night, this is the Bible verse I use most. I don’t just recite the words. I picture them. I experience them.
I picture Jesus standing right there with me in green pastures, beside a quiet lake. I feel Him refreshing my soul.
Even when it doesn’t immediately send me to sleep, it covers me in peace and comfort.
8. Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
You would think being still would be an easy thing to do, but it’s surprisingly difficult for me!
Even when my body is still, my mind is still racing at 100 miles an hour with work plans, recipe ideas, thoughts about my son, and running through my to-do list.
It sounds like it should be a passive thing but, for me, being still and knowing that He is God is an active, intentional choice on my part,
It’s a choice that slows those thoughts down, takes them captive, and lays them at God’s feet. It’s an act of trust and faith, letting them go out of my death grip and handing them over to His Almighty loving care.
9. Psalm 91:1-5
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Psalm 91:1-5
When I was in an abusive marriage, I prayed this verse often, sitting in my dark closet hidden behind a row of hanging shirts. I felt like I was constantly under attack and I clung so tightly to the promises in this verse.
No matter what troubles you are experiencing in your life, God is your refuge and your fortress.
In His presence, you can rest in safety.
10. Psalm 116:7
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”
Psalm 116:7
I start every morning by writing at least three things I’m grateful for in my prayer journal (I have 31 gratitude journal prompts here if you want to try them yourself).
God is always good to me but it’s when I recognize it that I’m able to return to rest and experience more of His goodness.
11. Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34
I probably say this verse to myself at least once a day.
I’m a planner so I’m always thinking ahead but, unfortunately, those worries so easily sneak into my plans and I always catch myself sinking into “what ifs” that are completely unnecessary at that moment.
It’s amazing the burden you can let go of and the rest you can experience by being fully present in the moment and not living 5 steps ahead of yourself.
12. Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29
I yearn for that – rest for my soul.
Just like I described above, I think we so often take on burdens that aren’t ours to carry. We try to control things that are completely out of our control.
I absolutely want to learn from Jesus and take on His yoke of gentleness and humility, carrying only the things I was meant to carry.
13. John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27
God’s peace that passes understanding is one of the greatest gifts of His I’ve been able to experience.
There have been moments when no one would have blamed me for being a basket case because it just made sense to feel stressed about the situation in the world’s eyes. It’s the “normal” response, right?
But God’s peace isn’t dependent on your circumstances. It isn’t earned or won…it’s a gift that doesn’t always make sense in our situation, but a beautiful thing to experience in stress and anguish.
Trusting God in our darkest valleys, letting His light fade our fears away, gives us the most beautiful gift of rest.
14. 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. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
I love that this verse is so clear in the steps we can take to combat our anxieties. He doesn’t just end it with, “Stop worrying.”
That would be like telling me not to push the big red button (which would make me just stare at the button, wanting to push it more than ever).
No, instead, he says don’t be anxious…instead, pray, be grateful, and ask God for help.
I have used that “formula” time and time again and, sometimes it takes a while, but always results in more peace.
15. Philippians 4:8-9
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9
These qualities – things that are true, noble, right, pure, and lovely – when I fix my mind on those things, I can practically feel my shoulders un-tense, my thoughts slow down, and my joy increases.
It feels like worry is the easy, more natural response, but intentionally choosing to direct your thoughts on these things? It is worth every ounce of effort.
16. 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7
There have been so many verses above talking about handing God our burdens and taking His yoke upon us.
Our pastor sometimes has us visualize actually doing this – picturing whatever it is we are worrying about in our hands and handing it over to Jesus.
That imagery can be so helpful for me when I’m feeling stuck in my worries.
17. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27
The reminders in the Bible that talk about God not giving like the world gives never get old to me.
We live in this world and get so used to the way it functions that it’s hard to imagine that God just doesn’t work the same way.
A Blessing For Sleep And Rest
May God cover you with His peace that passes all understanding, no matter what you are experiencing right now, and that you would be able to hand your burdens to Him and sink deeper into the safety and comfort of His rest, allowing your body to sleep in peace.
Looking For More Bible Verses? Check These Out!
21 Encouraging Bible Verses On God’s Love For Us
19 Bible Verses On Temptation (& How To Resist & Overcome It)
God bless you
This gave me sleep! I have been struggling and struggling but last night I went right to sleep.
I still took gummies and lorazepam but it was the scriptures that game me the peace and comfort as you said. I focused on ps 23:2 and went right to sleep for about 5 hrs. For some reason my body wakes up around 5 hours and it’s exhausting. So I retook everything and focused on the psalm and slept another 5 hours! I feel much better today and was to the point of even being admitted to the hospital for help. We don’t have insurance.
I so wish I had found your article a few years ago.
God has been reaching me about the imagination and applying His Word more and this did it. Thank you for being brave and putting this out here. My goal is to get off all meds.
Bless you!
Dustin
Thank you
As I sit here holding my sweet 4 month old baby girl while she naps, my faith has been renewed that I too will get to sleep again one day. Lol. Thanks for letting God use you. Every word of this post was exactly what I needed to hear. Blessings sis!
Oh, my heart so goes out to you, Bernadette! Those early months with a new baby sure are both a precious and uniquely challenging season! And, YES, I absolutely believe you will get to sleep again one day. Lol!
@Becky, Hi I have a fear of sleeping it’s torture every night I try to keep myself awake it’s destroying my life. Please pray for me
Hi Travis, I just stopped to say a prayer for you. I’m so sorry about your fear of sleeping. I’ve experienced a little bit of that myself with the severe insomnia I experienced for 2 1/2 years. There was often a sense of dread, not peace, when I laid down at night. I’m praying the Lord comforts your fear and covers you in His peace that passes all understanding to allow your body (and mind and soul) to get some rest.