Why do people suffer from insomnia when they seem to have a very safe and happy life? Does the Bible mention our need for sleep, and why it sometimes escapes us?

Sleep is one of God’s most precious gifts for our bodies. We need sleep for optimal health. In Genesis, God created a natural order to our lives by separating night from day (Gen. 1:3–4), and He even designated a day for rest (Gen. 2:2–3). After a solid night of rest, generally seven to nine hours, our bodies feel energized for a brand-new day. However, circumstances that occur during our hours of wakefulness may sometimes disrupt our restorative hours of sleep. Stressful life events (such as the pandemic), problems in relationships, changes in routine, positive and negative experiences, may impact our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

We see this throughout the Bible when kings could not sleep due to the weight of responsibility or life-changing decisions (Est. 6:1; Dan. 6:18; John 4:6). This is not a new problem, but is experienced by believers and unbelievers alike. At any point in our lives, unexpected circumstances have the potential to disrupt our peace of mind and our valuable sleep.