Success has as much to do with sleep as any other habit.
In Mark 4:38, we see something unexpectedly human:
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.”
While His disciples panicked in a storm, Jesus napped. Not because He was indifferent, but because He understood something we often forget: rest is not a luxury—it’s essential.
The Sleep-Success Connection
We live in a hustle culture that worships caffeine and late nights. But modern neuroscience and health experts are turning that narrative upside down.
Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist and host of the Huberman Lab podcast, states:
“Sleep is the foundation of all mental and physical health. You cannot out-supplement, out-caffeinate, or out-discipline bad sleep.”
Huberman emphasizes that deep sleep is when your brain consolidates learning, your body produces growth hormone, and your nervous system resets. If you’re trying to lead a high-performance life—whether you’re building a business, leading a family, or just trying to stay sane—sleep is the multiplier.
And he’s not alone.
Gary Brecka, a human biologist known for optimizing performance in elite athletes and executives, puts it bluntly:
“Sleep is the single most anabolic, performance-enhancing drug on the planet—and it’s free.”
He explains that just 90 minutes of missed sleep can reduce cognitive performance by over 30%, increase insulin resistance, and reduce testosterone levels in men by up to 15% overnight. That’s not just about energy—that’s about your long-term health, hormone function, and productivity.
Even Joe Rogan, host of the world’s most influential podcast, has weighed in:
“Sleep is your body’s built-in recovery system. If you’re skipping it to work more, you’re just making dumber decisions faster.”
Rogan frequently features experts who reiterate the same point: You can train hard, eat clean, and grind all day—but without sleep, you’re sabotaging your gains, your goals, and your grit.
What the Numbers Say
- Adults who get less than 6 hours of sleep are 30% more likely to gain weight and struggle with insulin resistance.
- Sleep-deprived people perform tasks with reaction times equivalent to being legally drunk.
- A lack of sleep increases the risk of heart disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s.
- According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, people who consistently get 7–9 hours of sleep have better memory, mood, and immune response.
Jesus Modeled Rest. Why Don’t You?
Jesus didn’t grind until He collapsed. He worked with urgency, yes—but He also withdrew to quiet places. He ate, He prayed, and He slept. And if the Son of God needed rest in the middle of a storm, so do we.
Sleep isn’t a soft skill—it’s strategic.
It’s where your ideas sharpen, your body heals, and your soul resets.
So if you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or burned out, maybe the answer isn’t more.
Maybe the answer is a nap. A reset. A full night’s sleep.
Let your success flow from a rested mind and a restored body.
Because the most dangerous lie hustle culture tells us is that rest is wasted time.
Jesus took naps. You should too.
Not because you’re lazy—but because you’re finally starting to take yourself—and your future—seriously.