Miracles Every Morning

Yael Eckstein  |  August 24, 2023

I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side. — Psalm 3:5-6

Miracles are central to both the Jewish and Christian faiths, and both biblical narratives are replete with miracles. Enjoy this collection of devotional teachings on the nature of God’s awe-inspiring signs and wonders.

One of my children used to have an extremely tough time going to sleep. We assumed that he was afraid of the dark, monsters under his bed, being alone, or any of the normal nighttime fears that so many kids have. We tried using a nightlight, “spraying for monsters,” and reciting extra prayers and songs for protection.

Then one day he said, “I’m not afraid of the dark—I’m afraid of falling asleep. What if I don’t wake up?” We calmed his fears, but the truth is, he was onto something. According to Jewish tradition, sleep is considered “one-sixtieth of death.” The soul leaves the body every night and runs the risk of never returning.

This explains why, before we even get out of bed in the morning, observant Jews recite a prayer of gratitude to God for restoring their souls to their bodies. Next, they do the same ritual hand washing that is required after leaving a cemetery. A brush with death demands purification.

Miracles Every Morning

Every morning, we begin our day with the miracle of waking up—the resurrection of the dead. If we open our eyes, it is only because God actively intervened. Everything beyond that is a bonus.

In Psalm 3, King David receives great inspiration from this daily miracle. He wrote this psalm at a time when his own son, Absalom, was leading a massive rebellion against him. David wrote, “I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” From where did he draw such faith? The psalm continues: “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”

David understood that God was working miracles every morning in his life every time he woke up. If God could perform a miracle on that level daily, David had no doubt that God could—and would—deliver him with more miracles throughout the day.

Your Turn:

When things seem hopeless, remember that the very fact that you opened your eyes in the morning is only because God willed it to be so. Count your blessings, and trust that God will perform miracles for you.