What Does the Bible Say About Sleep? | Dr. Benjamin Long

Dr. Benjamin Long joins Mark Osborne on The Valiant Forge to explore the connection between sleep, faith, and becoming the man God has called you to be. Ben is a physician with dual board certification in sleep medicine and pediatrics and the author of Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights. We talk about waking up in the middle of the night, the difference between rest and avoiding responsibility, overcoming the snooze button, and the habits that keep us awake. Ben also addresses a difficult question: does struggling to sleep mean you aren't trusting God enough? At the heart of this conversation is a different way to think about rest: accepting our limitations, trusting God, and preparing to show up for our families and the people He puts in front of us. What keeps you from resting—worry, scrolling, or feeling like there's always more to do? Share in the comments. CONNECT WITH DR. BENJAMIN LONG Website: https://thewholeheartedmd.com/ Book website, shared by Ben in this episode: https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com/ Sleep Habits Journal — publisher and purchase options: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: Can you get by on little sleep? 01:08 Meet Dr. Benjamin Long 02:14 How Ben became a sleep doctor 04:28 What is a theology of sleep? 07:23 Can you function on five or six hours of sleep? 10:20 Why you wake up during the night 12:21 Prayer and faith in sleepless nights 19:01 Sleeplessness versus insomnia 20:06 Being busy, feeling tired, and sleep deprivation 25:12 Sleep, laziness, and the book of Proverbs 26:43 How to overcome the snooze button 33:08 Overthinking, clock watching, and doomscrolling 36:10 Productivity, control, and Psalm 127 37:45 Does poor sleep mean you lack faith? 40:07 The journey behind Sleep Habits Journal 43:53 A sleep doctor's own struggle with sleeplessness 46:42 Our limitations and comfort in Christ 49:14 Sleep, sacrifice, and serving your family 51:34 Ben's book and where to connect 52:13 Rest that helps us show up for others Subscribe to The Valiant Forge for honest testimony, biblical conversations, and encouragement for men who want to follow God faithfully. The Valiant Forge — Where God shapes ordinary men into faithful men. #ChristianMen #BibleAndSleep #TheValiantForge