Episode 160: Brett McCracken - The Surprising Spiritual Role of Sleep and Rest (Why Do Humans Sleep?) Why did God create human beings to spend roughly a third of their lives asleep? What does sleep reveal about our limitations, our dependence upon God, and the Christian hope of resurrection? And might learning to rest be one of the most important spiritual disciplines in our increasingly restless world? In this episode of More Christ, I am delighted to welcome back Brett McCracken, senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God's Truth and Revives Weary Souls. Drawing upon Scripture, science, theology, and cultural commentary, Brett invites us to reconsider something we often take for granted. We explore the significance of sleep and Sabbath, the mystery of dreams, the relationship between body and soul, and the ways in which rest can deepen our understanding of God's grace. We also discuss our culture's obsession with productivity and optimisation, the importance of recognising our creaturely limitations, and what sleep might teach us about death, resurrection, and the life to come. From Jesus sleeping peacefully in the midst of a storm to the promise of eternal rest in God's presence, this conversation offers a rich Christian perspective on one of the most ordinary, yet extraordinary, aspects of human existence. ABOUT BRETT McCRACKEN Brett McCracken is a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition, author, and cultural commentator whose work explores Christianity, culture, technology, wisdom, and the arts. His books include The Wisdom Pyramid, Uncomfortable, and The Wisdom of Sleep. He is also a co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death. EXPLORE BRETT'S WORK The Wisdom of Sleep (book):https://www.brettmccracken.com/books Buy The Wisdom of Sleep (UK):https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/christian-health-wellbeing/diet-and-health/the-wisdom-of-sleep/ Official publisher's page:https://zondervanacademic.com/products/the-wisdom-of-sleep Brett's website:https://www.brettmccracken.com/ ABOUT MORE CHRIST More Christ is a podcast exploring Christian faith, theology, philosophy, literature, history, culture, and the great questions of human existence through conversations with thoughtful voices from across the Christian tradition. If you enjoy these conversations, please follow More Christ on Spotify, share this episode, and help others discover the podcast.