Maybe it's more than heartburn?!?

"On that night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the book of records, the annals, and they were read to the king."

(Esther 6:1)

Insomnia. Trouble sleeping. It happens from time to time for all of us. Sometimes it's related to the food we ate before going to bed... sometimes we've maybe had too much caffeine... sometimes it could be related to stress, worry, or an abundance of fear. Then again, sometimes there doesn't seem to be any clear explanation for it.

That's what happened to King Ahasuerus. This is just one small part of the amazingly epic story of the Book of Esther from the Bible. I'm sure it was tough being king. But there didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary for King Ahasuerus that should have interrupted his sleep. Nevertheless, one night it happened... and he instructed that reading materials be brought to him. He called for the Book of Records (aka "the annals"). Wow... talk about BORING! Then again, maybe that was his intent all along?!? So he started reading and was reminded about a foiled assassination attempt from earlier in his reign. Someone had tipped the queen off about a coup from two of his attendants. The plot failed, of course. But when the king inquired that night about what had been done for the one who had identified the plot, the answer was "absolutely nothing." Seriously, thought the king?!? That needs to be remedied. And then the king sprang into action... and what followed changed the course of the story (for the better!).

So looking back, it was a God-thing, that insomnia. Had the king chosen some other course of action than reading (like calling in some of his harem or binge-watching a series on Netflix, etc.), he may have missed that moment. But he didn't.

It doesn't happen to me very often, but occasionally I'm up in the middle of the night. This story challenge me to NOT think of it as an inconvenience... but rather to ask the question, "What might God be wanting me to do?" Should I read, pray, paint, write, etc.? I'm sure that each time it may be a different response, of course. But I should be asking God for direction!

I need to use every moment of time I have wisely. That's the underlying message I'm getting today. Sometimes it may not seem very significant, but God can accomplish all sorts of things in our lives if we're open to the Spirit - and willing to use our time wisely. Even times of insomnia.