When Sleep Won't Come: Help and Hope for Body and Soul
- MPN:
- 9781645076537
Description
Blending medical insight with biblical wisdom, physician and pastor Matt Rehrer explores both the physical and spiritual reasons why we struggle to sleep.
Our struggles with sleep impact every area of life, from physical and spiritual health to emotional well-being and thinking clearly. When Sleep Won’t Comeapproaches sleep from both physiological and biblical angles to help us understand our bodies’ physical rhythms and needs and to show how God uses sleep and sleeplessness to reveal his grace and care. Sleep is not just a complex biological rhythm of the body but a spiritual rhythm of the soul and a divine gift that reveals our human limitations and dependence on God.
Dr. Rehrer shares his personal experiences with sleep challenges and provides readers with tools to better understand their sleep patterns, manage stress, and find rest in the God who never sleeps. With clarity and compassion, he explains how sleep works, why it often fails, and what our restless nights reveal about both our bodies and our souls.
- A holistic approach walks readers through the purposes of sleep, root causes of sleeplessness, and solutions for sleep struggles.
- Offers actionable tips for body stewardship, improving sleep habits, and creating a conducive sleep environment.
- Provides a framework for prayer and Scripture meditation to find hope and rest during sleepless nights.
Matt Rehrer, MD, is an emergency medicine physician in the San Francisco Bay Area and also serves as a pastor at NorthCreek Church. He is the author of When Sleep Won’t Come and Redeeming Memory and is a contributor to The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference. He and his wife, Kara, have three children.
Endorsements
“One of the major battles of my adult life has been the battle to simply get a good night’s rest. I have tried very nearly every strategy and technique there is, except for reading a distinctly Christian book on the subject. I was pleased to learn that in this book, Matt Rehrer brings both medical and theological expertise to the matter. He addresses the whole person and offers a whole solution. And for that reason, I can give this book the praise that only a writer on this subject wants to hear: Read this book, because it may just put you to sleep.”
Tim Challies, Author, Seasons of Sorrow
“For something that will occupy nearly one-third of our lives, it is remarkable how little thoughtful attention is given to sleep. Thankfully, Dr. Matt Rehrer helps fill that gap. With clarity, wisdom, and experienced care, he skillfully weaves together the science of sleep and the theology that gives it meaning. Rehrer offers far more than practical guidance for better rest; he reminds us that sleep is one of God’s daily invitations to relinquish control, embrace our creaturely limits, and trust the God who faithfully watches over us day and night. Read, rest, and sleep!”
Jonathan D. Holmes, Executive Director, CCEF; author of Grounded in Grace
“God gave the night for our good because we need it. Yet, we do not realize the importance of sleep until it’s gone. Sleep can be a major contributing factor compounding our problems in daily living, or it can be a revealing symptom of inner wrestlings of the soul. Matt Rehrer has his finger on the pulse of the mystery of sleep by contributing a multifaceted explanation for what can make sleep so elusive. He introduces us to copious amounts of Scripture that provides insightful, informative, and practical wisdom regarding sleep! Matt Rehrer’s work offers discernment and hope for those who wrestle quietly in the dark for genuine rest.”
Dale Johnson, Executive Director, ACBC
“As a physician who’s weathered sleepless nights and as a follower of Christ stirred to wakefulness in a fallen world, I’m so grateful for When Sleep Won’t Come. Dr. Rehrer offers the winsomeness, medical knowledge, and biblical wisdom characteristic of his prior work that blends practical guidance with Scriptural counsel. Open, read, and find not only help for your long nights in the dark, but also vital reminders of our promised rest in Christ.”
Kathryn Butler, MD, Author of Glimmers of Grace: A Doctor’s Reflections on Faith, Suffering, and the Goodness of God
“Sleep. We think little of this thing we do so much. Thank God for Dr. Matt Rehrer’s impressive grasp of medicine, Scripture, and the human body. Clear, winsome, biblical, and practical, this book turns our attention to the wonder of God’s design for slumber and invites moments of worship along the way. If you struggle to sleep—or love someone who does—this book would be a timely gift.”
Dave Harvey, President, Great Commission Collective; author of When Sinners Say I Do and The Clay Pot Conspiracy
“Matt Rehrer is a rare combination of doctor and pastor. His dual vocation gives this book a unique blend of medical research, biblical truth, and pastoral care. The insights abound. Yet for all his skill, Matt knows what we need most—a Good Shepherd for all our sleepless nights and weary days.”
Gunner Gundersen, Dean of Faculty, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation
“I thought that I knew the Bible well, but I as I read this book, I was overwhelmed with how much God’s Word has to say about sleep. The combination of Matt’s medical knowledge and the wisdom he draws from Scripture makes this a uniquely helpful book addressing an important topic. Reading it also led me to praise God for how he gives our bodies rest and refreshment. I plan to share it with many counselees, family members, and friends.”
Jim Newheiser, Professor of Christian Counseling and Pastoral Theology and Director of the Christian Counseling Program, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte; author of Do I Need Boundaries?
“Sleep isn’t only biological; sleep is also spiritual. Rehrer orients sleep first around the character of God as Maker and Designer, offering a God-centered approach to the topic. While incorporating his medical background and robust theology, Rehrer helps bring worship to God and true refreshment to his people in this book.”
Greg E. Gifford, Assistant Dean, The Master’s University; fellow, Fortis Institute; executive director, Transformed Biblical Counseling Centers
“When Sleep Won’t Come is an excellent resource that offers good medical information and sound scriptural principles to help those who struggle with sleep. As a family physician and counselor, I know this book will be a great resource to help patients who just wish they could get a good night’s sleep. I highly recommend this book!”
Charles Hodges, MD, Family Physician; counselor, Hope Biblical Counseling Ministry; instructor, Faith Biblical Counseling Ministry; editor of The Christian Counselors Medical Desk Reference
“This is the book I’ve been waiting for! As one who has struggled for years with getting quality sleep, these pages were a balm for my weary soul. I was encouraged to pray for and prepare for better sleep while also being challenged to look to God in the midst of a sleepless night. Who better to write this book than someone who is both a physician and a pastor? Dr. Rehrer has offered up solid biblical and medical advice as someone who has helped many with sleep and also struggled with it himself. If you struggle with sleep or know someone who does, do yourself a favor—get a copy for yourself and for them. You won’t be disappointed!”
Dave Furman, Chancellor, Gulf Theological Seminary; author of Being There: Embracing God in Your Suffering and The Surprising Savior
“When Sleep Won’t Come is a gift to the weary! Dr. Rehrer treats sleeplessness with medical clarity, pastoral gentleness, and deep personal understanding. He quietly reorients the readers’ understanding of the nature of sleep while exploring the related physical, contextual, emotional, and spiritual factors. After reading this, you may still find yourself metaphorically counting sheep, but you will do so with the grace, patience, and the companionship of the Good Shepherd.”
Lisa LaGeorge, Senior Director, Children’s Hunger Fund; author of Single Together: Stewarding Singleness in the Family of God
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1 Review
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If we spend one-third of our lives doing something, it is probably wise that we steward such a thing and have as much biblical counsel on it as possible. And yet, there are very few resources on this subject, particularly from a biblical viewpoint. Part of this might have to do with the fact that we can't really control sleep--rather, sleep is what "happens" to us. Or maybe it's because the nature of sleep is somewhat mysterious. Even still, sleep (and sleep problems) might typically be seen as a body (or "outer man") issue, as opposed to more soul-centered issues like anger, depression, or envy (that is, "inner man" issues). Sleep disruptions had never been on my radar while growing up or as a younger adult. I barely even thought about sleep--it was more akin to swallowing or breathing, just something that happened without any care or consideration. But then I was afflicted with an unknown and then misdiagnosed medical disorder, which was later properly identified as a gallbladder disease. For 7 years, I was trying to treat the wrong medical condition, which only exacerbated the stress on my body. Although I finally got the proper diagnosis, the toll of chronic, misdiagnosed disease had begun to affect other areas of life, including difficulty sleeping. Navigating a sleep problem, particularly from a Christian perspective, can be a bit daunting. There are some brief articles from pastors and biblical counselors available online, which are helpful to an extent, but they are not comprehensive. And so, when I saw that Matt Rehrer, a medical doctor and biblical counselor, had published a forthcoming book about sleep (and sleep troubles) through New Growth Press, I was immediately intrigued. While there are some shortcomings in When Sleep Won't Come, it is a valuable resource to help a Christian navigate the suffering of sleep disruptions from both a biblical and medical perspective. Rehrer's opening chapter alone is a fantastic overview of the nature of sleep, which, by itself, provides some comfort and guidance for how one should approach sleep. Chapter 2 follows up on why we sleep. Here, we learn of how God gifts sleep to human beings as a common grace, but it is likewise a necessity humans to survive. Meanwhile, God is distinguished from such a need. Chapter 3 speaks of the many blessings that God has provided in His gift of sleep. Now, this could possibly lead to frustration for the sleep-deprived and insomniacs, but that is not the intention here. We instead see how wisely God created sleep when it is stewarded well and functioning properly. Chapter 4 addresses the tired but wired elephant in the room: the effects of insufficient sleep. His closing paragraph says it well: "Insufficient sleep reminds us of how fragile we are. We are not designed to live endlessly without sleep. Sleeplessness carries consequences that can impact how we act, feel, and think. But sometimes sleep needs to be surrendered out of love for others. Christ exemplified this sacrificial care when he stayed awake to pray and walked on water to rescue his disciples. If you are sleepless, remember the sympathetic Savior sees you and strengthens you for the long and stormy nights." Chapter 5 is where Rehrer helpfully employs his medical expertise to this body-and-soul issue. He neither opposes medicine, nor does he instantly want to subscribe pills to every sleep problem. But he does provide godly counsel and wisdom for navigating this problem. Chapter 6 also addresses environmental factors to sleep, which may play a role. Chapter 7 then moves deeper from the "outer man" and into the "inner man" of the soul. Chapter 8 looks at some potentially helpful practices conducive to better sleep. And then Chapters 9 and 10 conclude with how to approach a long, dark night of sleeplessness, as well as the next day after a poor night's sleep. Overall, was When Sleep Won't Come a helpful read for someone still roughed up by somewhat regular sleep disruptions? Yes. It was very helpful to have a medically-informed resource that is combined with wise, compassionate biblical counsel. Indeed, much of the Bible's teachings on sleep was addressed in this concise book. I also found some of the quotes he interspersed from Christians in church history to be informative and encouraging. That being said, while this book is a great foundation for how we look at sleep, even including some practical how-to's and potential solutions, I thought it was definitely a resource of "hope and help" (as the subtitle implies) for the soul, but perhaps less so for the body. To be clear, Rehrer does include several examples of how a body in pain can sometimes prevent a good night's sleep. And his discussion of medication is helpful to consider. But it seems like the solutions were: (1) medicine, (2) altering one's environment, or (3) employing spiritual disciplines. (1) and (2) are largely for the body and (3) for the soul, but it seemed like to me there could have been a bit more clarity on the nature of us being embodied souls. For example, are there practical ways to help calm our bodies down after a very stressful day (or perhaps a string of stressful days)? If employing medicine "seems" to be permissible for mind-body challenges like insomnia, why is CBT-I rather strongly rebuked if certain elements of it might prove useful to the body, while not necessarily adopting all of its practices wholesale? (pg. 95-96) Especially if "Studies show that CBT-I is more effective than medications without the exposure to medication side effects" (pg. 95). If medicine helps calm the body to then calm the mind for sleep, I would think that there are other useful tools to the Christian to use for the sake of physical health, while certainly not ignoring one's spiritual health. Nevertheless, I would still definitely and heartily recommend When Sleep Won't Come to believers who are battling the difficulty of sleep disruptions.