GOD'S GOT MY SLEEP NUMBER

For me “sleep number bed” is an oxymoron. We had a “sleep number bed” for a little over two years and there wasn’t a whole lot of sleep going on. We got the bed and I was thrilled - ready to experience the sleep Lindsay Wagner described. My sleep number was 25, I knew that and I remembered that, but the bed couldn’t. I’d set my bed on 25 and settle down for a restful night, huh, the bed had other ideas. Through the night the bed would change the setting usually to five which is basically “deflated”. This presented a serious challenge for me and Todd when I was pregnant. I would wake up to pee and I’d be stuck in a sink hole in my own bed. I couldn’t get out, so I’d have to wake Todd up to hoist me out of bed. Select Comfort sent us replacement parts, lots of them, lots of times, but the bed just didn’t work.

Recently I recalled a book I read over the summer A Life That Says Welcome: Simple Ways to Open Your Heart & Home to Others by Karen Ehman. In the book the author mentions a list that her and her husband make every year of things they need and want, then they pray and ask God to provide them at little or no cost. Each year almost everything gets crossed off their list. I had been suffering from terrible neck, shoulder and back pain and after countless visits to the chiropractor and massage therapists there was little relief and I determined the bed to be the culprit. So, I began my prayer…Lord, I need a bed…you know I don’t have any money for one, so I’m excited to see how your going to do this! Spiritual, huh? Well, God must have thought so, because two days later He gave me a bed.

It was October 31st and I woke up to a dead battery in my van, so I walked across the street to my neighbors to borrow a battery charger. On the way I noticed a steady flow of water coming from my yard and cascading down the street. First things first, the battery! My neighbor opened his garage to get the charger and what was before me, but a king sized mattress. Mental note: Ask neighbor about the bed. It never came up in conversation and I had to get a new battery and deal with the water leak, so I’d talk to him later.

After getting the battery installed and the water company coming out my neighbor asked how it was all going and then there was a lull in the conversation. So, I said, “I saw a mattress in your garage, are you wanting to get rid of it?” “Yeah, you want it?”, was his reply. He told me that he was taking it to the dump the next day because he had purchased a sleep number bed. Funny, huh? Todd brought the mattress into our garage and as I loaded the kids in the car I glanced at the mattress with a grateful heart and saw the label “Stearns & Foster” (a very good and expensive mattress). I had to laugh out loud because it so like the Lord to give you the best when you ask. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

…when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

If you think it is wrong to ask God for something like a bed take it up with Him!

Have you made a purchase that you later regretted because it didn't work like it said it would? I'd love to hear your story...