Recently, I’ve been suffering from several unwanted cases of insomnia. And while I know it’s probably due to the upcoming arrival of Baby #4 in a few days, that still doesn’t help when the day officially begins and I’m already ready for a nap!

Obviously, I’ve been through this before. I’ve tossed and turned, gotten angry and anxious, and tried to barter away the rest of my life for just a few minutes of sleep during middle-of-the-night “prayers.” But this time, rather than fight the sleepless nights, I’ve been embracing them.

I know that long-term insomnia is a different matter altogether, but if you experience the occasional 3 a.m. wake up call like me, here are 6 things you can do to embrace the insomnia:

1. Get out of bed
Insomnia often involves a lot of tossing and turning and trying in vain to find a position of comfort in bed. But sometimes a change of scenery can be beneficial. If you’re married, your husband will probably thank you.

2. Eat something
Is your body awake because your stomach is empty? Grab something light, like a piece of toast, to tide you over until breakfast.

3. Avoid bright lights
Help your mind and body stay in “rest” mode by avoiding bright lights. Use soft lamps rather than overhead lights, and consider keeping the TV, computer, or cell phone turned off! Even the glow from those can trigger your mind into “awake” mode.

4. Read the Bible
This is where you can really start embracing the quiet middle-of-the-night hours. When else do you get a long period of peace and quiet to sit with your Bible and focus solely on what God is saying to you? Many people may try this as a means to an end. (ie. “I’ll read Leviticus! That’ll really put me to sleep!”) But I’m talking about truly focusing on God’s words and His quiet message to your heart.

5. Pray
Again, this is not a chance to practice the Christian version of counting sheep. This is an opportunity for focused communication. Remember all those prayer requests you heard about in Sunday school? Now is your chance to focus on them. You know that dream you have in your heart? Now is your chance to whisper those desires directly into God’s ear.

6. Be still.
Do what?! Ah, yes. Be still. The house is quiet. The chaos has subsided. The noisiness of the world has been temporarily muted. For 15-20 minutes, embrace the silence. Don’t focus on praying. Don’t read. Don’t plan your day. Just “Be still and know that I am God,” (Ps. 46:10).

Quiet moments are a rarity today. So if you find yourself awake in the middle of the night, for whatever reason, consider embracing the quiet as an unexpected blessing. You never know how God may use those moments!

Q: How do you embrace insomnia?