Yawning In Church

And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. Acts 20:9

Have you ever fallen asleep during a sermon? We usually assume, if that happens, either the preacher is boring or the person is spiritually weak. But there are many reasons someone might fall asleep in church. I once knew a medical resident; some Saturdays he would have to stay up all night at the hospital, and he would still come to church the next morning. Yes, sometimes he fell asleep, but I was always moved by his dedication to being there. No one would have blamed him if he had gone home to go to bed after working all night.

I don’t know if I’ve ever fallen completely asleep during church, but I have definitely come close, and I’ve certainly yawned countless times. I’ve heard it said that we should go to bed early on Saturday nights, have our church clothes laid out ahead of time— do everything we can to make sure we are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for Sunday morning services. But going to bed early doesn’t keep me from getting sleepy when I have to sit still. And God bless the parents of young children who would love nothing better than eight straight hours of sleep, but they’re in a phase of life where that ain’t happening!

I do feel badly when I yawn during a sermon because I don’t want the preacher to think I’m bored. That is rarely the case. I also hope he doesn’t think I’m texting when I’m actually looking up something on the Bible app. I can only imagine all the things a preacher observes, perhaps only subconsciously, as he’s looking out over the congregation presenting his lesson.

I wonder what Paul thought about Eutychus falling asleep in Acts 20:7-12, and what was it like for the preacher to preach until midnight. Were the people all sitting in rows of seats, only getting up to go to the bathroom or for a quick drink of water? Even after Eutychus fell out the third story window, “was taken up dead,” and then was revived by Paul, the gathering continued until daybreak. It mentions eating and talking a long time. So perhaps Paul’s message was delivered more in a conversational format, more like a Bible class than a sermon. Perhaps it was not an entirely formal event. But it was a gathering of God’s people with the purpose of learning from an inspired apostle on his last night with them. Generally speaking, they were probably hanging on Paul’s every word.

But humans get sleepy. Especially in the middle of the night. There is no recorded rebuke of Eutychus; rather, scripture tells us that when they brought him in alive, his fellow Christians were “not a little comforted.” This is a picture of love, not judgment.

I’m sure wise preachers will give us the benefit of the doubt if someone is yawning or even nodding off.

We need to give each other the benefit of the doubt too.

The most interesting comment I’ve heard about yawning in church was from a friend who had been part of a church where relationships were strained. Some people there were easily offended, so you really had to watch yourself. When my friend started going to a more loving church, she said she found herself yawning, but it was because she could relax there. It was safe.

Church should be a safe space– not where we are never challenged, but where the standard is God’s word and God’s grace, NOT individual people’s whims and pet peeves.

By all means, let’s do what we can to be well rested and prepared for worship. But we’re in physical bodies, and it is God who gave them to us. He remembers that we are but flesh (Psalm 78:39). What’s more, He knows our hearts. God is our safe space.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to love worshiping You and learning about Your word. We praise You for being the God of all compassion and comfort. We ask Your special blessing on those who are worshiping You in spite of challenging work schedules, health problems, and other cares. Help us to be “safe spaces” for each other as You are for all of us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins