Resting in Jesus

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, know 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.

-- from "Jesus, I am Resting" by Jean Sophia Pigott

Rest -- who does not yearn for this sometimes seemingly unattainable luxury? Jesus said, "Come unto Me all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest." Sometimes my anxious soul refuses to be still. I worry and worry. I fear and fret. Lord, help me to rest in the joy of You. Nothing else can satisfy the longings of my heart, no matter how good those desires seem to be. You alone can "satisfy my deepest longing, meet, supply my every need."

I am blessed beyond measure. I cannot ever adequately voice my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for His love! Help me, Lord, to understand that Your love can sustain me. I need not fret about the future; I can rest in Your loving care. "Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace!"

Finding Strength for Trials

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.
-from "Day by Day" by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg

What a rich text! I had to include the entire hymn because I found comfort in so much of it. "With each passing moment (all the time)...trusting in MY FATHER'S (the God of gods is MY Abba) wise bestowment (He gives to us wisely)...no cause for worry or fear (NO REASON TO WORRY)." WOW!!!

I am so thankful that "He whose heart is kind beyond all measure" is the one caring for me each day! When I contemplate that "every day the Lord HIMSELF is near me," I stand in awe. Why me? He cares for me? I sin and fail Him; I get caught up in the cares of this world. Yet He is there "with a special mercy for each hour." What a comfort!

Oh, loving Father, "help me then, in EVERY tribulation, to trust thy promises." Keep me from doubting during the difficult times; may "I lose NOT faith's sweet consolation offered within Thy holy Word. You give comfort; You give rest. Help me rely on YOU."

Trusting Jesus

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
- from "Trusting Jesus" by Edgar Stites

Over the past few months, this song seems to have been on "repeat" in my mind. I want to chew on the words and digest them. I want to trust the Lord with all that I am. Oh, how I long to trust Him "every day" and "whate'er befall." I know in my head that "while He leads I cannot fall," but I desire to really, truly, and entirely trust Him in my heart. In a way, that statement is quite a paradox. I either trust something/someone, or I don't. "Kind of" trusting cannot exist. I must be honest with myself; if I am questioning God, I am not trusting Him. What a sobering thought! I have trusted God with my soul; why do I not trust Him with my everyday life. What a rebuke these thoughts have been to me! Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts!

Oh, Lord, "even when my faith is small" help me to trust You! You are the I AM; You are Jehovah-jireh! Help me to "simply trust."