A Liturgy For Sleepless Nights

In peace, I will both lie down

and sleep;

For you alone, O Lord, make 

me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8) 

O Lord, the One we know makes us safe, 

who causes the cosmos to ebb and flow 

and whose omnipotence created the day and the night. 

Help us to follow your call to rest and lay our yokes upon you.

Help us to feel how light your burden truly is. 

Help us to remember that you calmed the seas in the tempest, 

and can calm our minds this very night, too. 

Christ the comforter, Christ the mighty counsellor and prince of peace 

Remind us of whatever is lovely, whatever is true and whatever is noble

and fix our minds to these things as we toss to and fro, 

overwhelmed by the weight of the world and 

frailty of this life. 

Father in heaven, fill us with your love and truth this very night. 

Shepherd us into deep sleep so that we may serve you more fully, even out of our suffering. 

Shelter us from the overwhelming power of the mind that overtakes and overinforms. 

Shield us from the very things that keep us from sleep in this very moment. 

Let us be so filled with your peace that we may sleep in your surrender. 

Amen.