Bloodshot eyes and a crying baby!

These last couple of months have been very exhausting. With all of the moving, travels, not to mention normal baby developments that disrupt sleep, Micah has NOT been sleeping well. The last week or two he has even been waking up and crying for two hours at a time! Nothing we did or didn't do seemed to make a difference. I even talked to his doctor and he couldn't understand what was going on. He told me to try giving him some tylenol before he went to bed to see if that helped. Well, last night he sleep for 12 hours straight! I haven't felt so good in a very long time. He has slept 10 hours from time to time, but it was always just before another move and so it didn't continue. 

Earlier this week a blood vessel even broke in my eye because of the lack of sleep and stress! My left eye looks bright red and very unpleasant. I was reading my Bible last night and a devotional book I have been going through with some other ladies here on campus and I was reminded that what is in my life right now is from God and He has given it to me for a purpose. He has been reminding me over and over again that regardless of what my circumstances are, He has given me the grace to act like His child in the midst of the trial and not give into my fleshly attitudes. I don't have a "right" to have a bad attitude, to be inpatient with my children, and rude to my husband. I am to "walk in a manner worthy"  with "all humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." (Eph. 4:1-3) It doesn't matter if I have had three hours of sleep or eight! 

I read a quote by Andrew Murray that I found really encouraging....

"In time of trouble, say, 'First, he brought me here. It is by his will that I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.' Next 'He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child.' Then say, 'He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow." And last, say, 'In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows.' Therefore say, 'I am here (1) by God's appointment, (2) in his keeping, (3) under his training, (4) for his time.'"

While a baby that won't sleep is a small trial in comparison to the death of a loved one, ongoing sickness, or many other things allowed into the lives of believers, it is what God has chosen to give us at this time and we can accept it gladly and willingly, resting in the knowledge that His grace is sufficient and the lessons He is teaching us are more valuable than sleep. 

While Micah seems to now have chosen sleep over crying for hours, who knows if it will continue. Whether or not, we know that we can rest in our Almighty God.  To Him be the praise and glory in all things!