The Most Underrated Way to Strengthen Your Spiritual Life

The Most Underrated Way to Strengthen Your Spiritual Life

Most people think of holiness in terms of prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. While all of these are essential, there’s one overlooked factor that has a profound impact on spiritual life—sleep.

Fr. Augustine Wetta put it simply: “I am convinced that fifty percent of holiness is simply getting to bed on time.”

At first glance, this might seem humorous, but modern science, Scripture, and the wisdom of the saints confirm that a well-rested body and mind are crucial for a strong spiritual life.

Why Sleep Affects Holiness

The connection between sleep and spiritual life is deeper than many realize. Lack of sleep weakens self-control, increases anxiety, and makes it harder to pray, focus, and resist temptation.

• Proverbs 3:24 – “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

• Psalm 127:2 – “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.”

God designed the body to function in a rhythm. When we violate this order—staying up too late, overworking, or neglecting rest—our ability to live virtuously suffers.

What Science Says About Sleep and Self-Control

Studies in neuroscience show that sleep deprivation weakens the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control. This means that when we don’t get enough sleep, we’re:

• More irritable (making patience and kindness harder)

• More anxious (reducing our ability to trust in God)

• More impulsive (making us more prone to sin)

One study from the University of California found that sleep deprivation significantly increases negative emotions while decreasing our ability to regulate them. In short, bad sleep leads to bad moods, bad moods lead to bad choices, and bad choices weaken spiritual life.

What the Saints Say About Rest

The saints understood that caring for the body was not a distraction from holiness but a foundation for it.

• St. John Cassian warned against excessive sleep deprivation, noting that lack of rest leads to spiritual and physical exhaustion.

• St. Basil the Great taught that “excessive sleeplessness darkens the mind,” making it harder to pray and resist temptation.

• St. Seraphim of Sarov advised that while prayer and fasting are powerful, neglecting sleep weakens both the body and soul.

Holiness isn’t about grinding ourselves into exhaustion. It’s about ordering our lives properly, which includes giving the body the rest it needs.

How to Improve Sleep for a Stronger Spiritual Life

1. Keep a regular sleep schedule – Going to bed and waking up at the same time trains the body to rest well.

2. Pray before sleep – Night prayers calm the mind and invite God’s peace. (Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”)

3. Avoid screens before bed – Blue light disrupts melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.

4. Limit caffeine and stress in the evening – Both overstimulate the nervous system, reducing sleep quality.

5. See sleep as part of your spiritual discipline – Getting good rest isn’t laziness—it’s preparing yourself to serve God fully.

Conclusion

If half of holiness is simply getting to bed on time, maybe it’s time we take our sleep more seriously. A well-rested Christian is a more patient, prayerful, and disciplined one. Instead of sacrificing rest in pursuit of productivity, let’s see sleep as a gift from God—one that restores both body and soul.

After all, if Jesus Himself could sleep in the middle of a storm (Mark 4:38), maybe we should follow His example.