{"id":14668,"date":"2026-10-30T05:41:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&#038;p=14668"},"modified":"2026-10-30T05:41:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T09:41:29","slug":"when-sorrow-drives-us-to-sleepless-solitude","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/when-sorrow-drives-us-to-sleepless-solitude","title":{"rendered":"WHEN SORROW DRIVES US TO SLEEPLESS SOLITUDE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop\u201d (Psalm 102:7 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Psalm 102 is a moving description of sleeplessness and the sorrow of feeling isolated in suffering. Its heading identifies it as \u201cA Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The psalmist compares himself to a solitary bird, separated from its companions, keeping a lonely vigil. While everyone else sleeps, he lies awake, alone with his sorrow. His suffering has robbed him not only of sleep, but also of the comfort of companionship. Yet his lament eventually gives way to confidence in God&#8217;s everlasting faithfulness. For in verse 12, he declares, \u201cBut you, O LORD, are enthroned forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We may sometimes feel like that lonely sparrow on the rooftop. Grief, anxiety, or disappointment may leave us sleepless, feeling forgotten by others and unable to find rest. Yet even in our deepest solitude, we are never forgotten by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus taught that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from our heavenly Father&#8217;s knowledge. Then He reminded His disciples, \u201cFear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows\u201d (Matt. 10:31). The God who sees the solitary sparrow also sees the suffering saint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus Himself experienced profound loneliness. His disciples deserted Him, and He endured the cross to reconcile us to God. Yet through His death and resurrection, He has secured for us the promise of His abiding presence. For He said, \u201cI am with you always\u201d (Matt. 28:20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When sorrow drives us to sleepless solitude, we can turn our lonely vigil into prayer. For the Lord who watches over the sparrow is surely watching over us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PRAYER<\/strong>: Heavenly Father, when sorrow keeps us awake and loneliness overwhelms us, remind us that You see us and hear our cries. Help us find rest in Christ&#8217;s unfailing love and abiding presence. In Jesus&#8217; name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop\u201d (Psalm 102:7 ESV). Psalm 102 is a moving description of sleeplessness and the sorrow of feeling isolated in suffering. Its heading identifies it as \u201cA Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD.\u201d The psalmist [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"audio":"https:\/\/garycombsorg.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Oct-30-2026-at-5_36_33AM-enhanced-v2.mp3"},"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1286],"scripture-chapter":[1435],"oyb_day":[1830],"class_list":["post-14668","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-psalms","scripture-chapter-1435","oyb_day-october-30"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/14668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14668"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=14668"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=14668"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=14668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}