Your longing for the return of our Lord Jesus is a most blessed sign, for wise are they who live habitually beneath the influence of the Second Advent, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Son of God. We join our hearts with yours in that ancient prayer of the church, Even so, come, Lord Jesus. To desire His appearing is to love Him, and to love Him is to be always coming unto Him, as unto a living stone, coming for spiritual food and guidance and help and health, coming in one lifelong perpetual coming till we lie flat and square upon Christ.
Concerning your desire for a good night's sleep, remember that sleep is the gift of God, and so He giveth His beloved sleep. It is not merely that we lay our heads upon the pillow and compose ourselves, but the Lord Himself must give it. There is a rest which believers have now, for we who have believed do enter into rest, and Christ says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. May the Lord grant you that sweet rest which belongs to those who trust Him, that quietness of heart which says, What my God appoints is best, and then may He add to it the gracious gift of bodily sleep, to refresh you for His service. For holy activity is itself a kind of rest when the heart abides in Christ.
For your family we will also plead with the Most High. Family prayer is the nutriment of family piety and the castle wherein God is honored in the household. If you have a place of family prayer, keep it with double zeal, and if it has been neglected, return unto it, for there the Lord delights to meet with His people. We pray that every member of your household may be drawn to come unto Christ at the first, and then to keep coming, that they may know the hope which is not found in ourselves but is found in Him whom God has provided to be the Saviour of such as we are.
Let us pray together. O Lord our God, we thank Thee for the blessed hope of the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Hasten that day, and keep this dear soul watching and waiting, not sleeping as do others, but sober and hopeful. Give now, we beseech Thee, the precious gift of sleep, for Thou givest Thy beloved sleep, and let the body be restored and the soul find rest in Thy Son. Bless this family, we pray Thee, turn every heart therein unto Thyself, establish Thy worship in their midst, and let Thy peace dwell under their roof. Bring them all into that perfect rest which remaineth for the people of God, where they shall serve Thee day and night and yet rest not day nor night in holy delight. Hear us for Jesus sake. Amen.