Hymn History "Jesus I am Resting, Resting"

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Good afternoon.

I have one more hymn history for you today. It was written by the sister of a man killed in the violent anti-Christian rebellion known as the Boxer Rebellion in China.

The hymn was a favorite of missionary Hudson Taylor, during the Boxer Rebellion in China. The Boxer Rebellion was a violent uprising against Christian missionaries which took place in China between 1899 and 1901.  Hudson’s biographer wrote “Having returned to England in ill health, he was brought to the very doors of death by the terrible news of the disruption of the work and the murder of hundreds of missionaries, as well as hundreds of native Christians, in connection with the Boxer uprising of 1900. Anguish of heart was killing him. Yet he believed that this baptism of blood would, under God, work out to the furtherance of the gospel.”

Word came to Hudson Taylor of one after another of his missionary friends being brutally slain. Hudson Taylor often took comfort in the words of this hymn written in 1876 by Jean Sophia Pigott. Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting, became a great comfort to him and the missionaries around him. Her own brother, Thomas, was also a missionary in China and was martyred during the Boxer Rebellion.


1. 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.


Refrain:

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness

Of Thy loving heart.


2. Oh, how great Thy loving kindness,

Vaster, broader than the sea!

Oh, 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.


3. 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!


4. 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.




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