This poem became a favorite hymn to J. Hudson Taylor, an early missionary to China. He established the China Inland Mission in 1865. He was overwhelmed with worry, work and responsibility when he received a letter from a friend who wrote about abiding in Christ (John 15). "Abiding, not struggling, looking off unto Him; trusting Him for present power...This is not new, and yet 'tis new to me....Christ literally all seems to me now the power, the only power for service; the only ground for unchanging joy."
Hudson Taylor read this and wrote to his sister, "As I read, I saw it all. I looked to Jesus, and when I saw, Oh, how the joy flowed! The weight and strain are all gone. The last month has been perhaps the happiest of my life, and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul....When the agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in the letter from dear McCarty (said) "But how to get faith strengthened is not by striving after faith but by resting on the Faithful One."
The words of the song Jesus," I am Resting, Resting" expresses what Taylor found and is available to all Christians.
"Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.
O, how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea! O, how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me! Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, knowing what wealth of grace is Thine, Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, and Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart; Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need, Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee; resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth's dark shadows flee, Brightness of my Father's glory, sunshine of my Father's face, Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with Thy grace." |