Sleeping on God’s Shoulder

This weekend at a family gathering, my 45-year-old cousin, a new father, walked into the room with his sleeping baby girl on his shoulder. He said to another cousin, "Want to feel the best feeling in the world? Want to let Aimee sleep on your shoulder?" He transferred the little girl to his aunt's shoulder, and the baby nestled into her new position.

I enjoyed watching both of my cousins reveling in the sweetness of a baby, totally relaxed and trusting, sleep on their bodies. I remembered the days when it was my husband's and my turn to experience that with our sons. It's a heart-swelling, quiet kind of joy.

Where does that precious happiness come from? Why would something so seemingly natural, be a source of such exquisite joy?

I think that moments like these are a window into the Father heart of God.

Surely it must deeply bless Him when we trust Him to the point of relaxing in His care, able to sleep in the peace of one who feels loved and safe.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Biblical faith means trust, and a child sleeping on an adult's shoulder is a picture of what that kind of trust looks like.

For the past couple of years I've been on a personal "treasure hunt" of Ephesians 5:10, which tells us find out what is pleasing to the Lord. It occurred to me that the pleasure we get from a child able to sleep on our shoulder because they trust us, is a signpost to what pleases God as well: our trust pleases Him. Choosing to relax in His care pleases Him. Choosing to believe the best about Him based on what He has revealed of Himself pleases Him.

Resting in His love pleases Him.

Lord, help us to know You in deeper and deeper ways so we begin to understand that You are good, You are trustworthy, You are safe for us to sleep on Your shoulder.