I recently read a book, “Increasing Your Capacity to Experience the Divine Unlimiting God” by Richard Blackaby. In this book, the author shared a very touching story about his teenage son, Daniel.
When Daniel was fifteen, he faced severe sleep issues, sometimes staying awake for 72 hours straight. This left him feeling lonely and frustrated. His parents tried every remedy and consulted multiple doctors, but nothing helped.
One night, at 3:00 a.m., Daniel hit a breaking point. Crying out to God, he asked, “Don’t You care about me? Why won’t You answer my prayers for sleep?”
Two days later, he received a handwritten letter from a friend in his youth group. She explained that she had been woken up in the middle of the night with a strong urge to write to him. In the letter, she shared Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” She assured him of God’s love and special plan for his life.
Shaken, Daniel ran to her house to ask when she wrote it. She revealed it was the same night he cried out to God—around 3:00 a.m.
This experience showed Daniel that God was listening and cared deeply for him, even in his lowest moments.
Daniel struggled to understand why God allowed his sleepless nights, but he began to see a purpose in his pain during a summer camp with his youth group.
At the camp, the teens shared their personal struggles. A girl revealed she had almost taken her own life after a difficult year but reached out to Daniel online late at night. She thought he wouldn’t reply, but because of his sleep issues, he responded immediately, and their conversation saved her life. She told the group, “If Daniel hadn’t been awake that night, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Another boy shared how he had planned to end his life early one morning. As he numbed his wrist in preparation, he decided to call someone first. Knowing Daniel often stayed awake all night, he called him. Daniel answered immediately, and their conversation stopped him from going through with his plan. He told the group, “If Daniel hadn’t been awake that night, I’d be dead today.”
Four others shared how Daniel’s resilience through his sleeplessness inspired them to face their own struggles that year.
When Daniel returned home from camp, he told his parents he no longer saw his sleeplessness as a curse. He realized God had used his challenge to accomplish something extraordinary. God gave him an assignment to save lives and bring hope to others during one of the hardest seasons for his youth group.
God doesn’t inflict pain on His children; He is not the source of evil. However, when He permits challenging circumstances, He can use them for His glory if we surrender to Him.
No matter how difficult things may seem, one truth remains constant: God loves you. This unwavering love never changes. When we allow uncomfortable situations to shape us, they can do a profound work in us, making us better and stronger.
Do you believe that God is for you? Share with me in the comment section.
Rooting for you, always!
