Seminary and Sleep

The Bible has a surprisingly large number of things to say about sleep. From narratives (remember Samson) to theological passages (1 Thes. 4:13-18) to matters of praxis (Prov. 19:23), sleep is an important part of Scripture. It is also a fundamental part of our humanity—almost every person sleeps for 6 to 8 hours every night.

But how should a seminarian think about sleep? Seminary often creates challenges in the schedule of many students because it must be balanced with other high priorities: ministry to one’s family, ministry in the church, and a vocation. Seminary classes rarely require an equal amount of effort each week—a paper due at the end of the semester may necessitate greater labor as the semester progresses.

Mercifully, we serve the God who never sleeps (Psalm 121:4). We are not called to imitate His transcendent needlessness, but rather to look to Him as the source of our strength. First, then, seminarians should rely upon the Lord as they sleep. David, as he penned Psalm 4, was keenly aware of the fact that God had set him apart for Himself, and would hear his prayer (v.3). Psalm 4 is about David’s trust in God in the midst of hardship, and how God’s faithfulness enabled him to rest easily at night (Ps. 4:8). Seminarians, like David, should rest well in faith, knowing that God has perfectly provided for the needs of His children. Worrying and losing sleep over projects or problems is not honoring to God, but dishonoring. Rely on the Lord, then, and sleep in peace!

Second, seminarians should always seek to obey and fulfill the will of God. We must recognize the fact that our hard labor is not able to change God’s will. In Psalm 127, Solomon writes that dominion is granted to God’s chosen servant (v.1), and that even our most fervent striving is not able to fight against His plan (v.2). In light of that, he says that God gives His children even sleep (or even in sleep) (v.2). Seminarians must labor in line with the will of God, having sought Him in prayer and in the Word. Submit to God’s plans for the church so that you may experience the blessing of sleep, while His enemies labor fruitlessly against Him.

Third, seminarians must not love sleep. In the book of Proverbs it is written that we must not love sleep or we will become poor (Prov. 20:13). In God’s Word it is equally true that we cannot accomplish anything against God’s will, even by sleepless labor, and that God will use our labor for the effecting of many things, whether great or mundane. Though we do not have sovereign power to change reality (Ps. 127:1-2), we nevertheless are tasked with enacting the will of the Lord in creation. If we love sleep then we have failed to understand the high calling that God has granted us. Sleep, though it is a blessing from God, is not to be loved apart from Him. Our need for sleep demonstrates our neediness, so we must sleep some—but at the same time we must guard against laziness! Ill effects come to those who set their affections on the things of the world.

Finally, seminarians must be willing to give up sleep as it is necessary. Paul demonstrates this truth as he told the Corinthians that he had been through ‘many sleepless nights,’ which was an emblem of his service to the church (2 Cor. 11:27). Though Paul recognized that he relied upon God for everything, he was also willing to sacrifice his own comfort for the sake of the gospel. The same thing might be required of you during your time in seminary—and certainly afterwards. Ministry does not always crop up during scheduled business hours, so we must be willing to make our bodies our slaves (1 Cor. 9:27), dying to ourselves to serve others. We should consider sleep to be optional sometimes so that we may serve the church or suffer for the gospel.

Sleep is a wonderful gift of God, but it must not be abused. We should rely upon the Lord and upon His revealed will, not loving the things of this world but rather giving of ourselves for the sake of Christ’s name. This is as true in seminary as it is in the rest of our Christian life. May God grant us a healthy perspective on sleep!

--Dean of Admissions