Lyrics: Jean Sophia Pigott, 1845-1882.

Music: TRANQUILITY by James Mountain.
This tune by Matthew Smith is the one we sing at my church, and I’m rather fond of it.

Jesus, I Am Resting – Matthew Smith

Theme:

My Two Cents: “Concentrate on the rich text that urges you to gaze on Christ, to find delight in Him, to rest in Him, to be satisfied in Him alone.”

Rebecca Writes: “This hymn points to the beauty of Christ and his work and reminds us that trust in him is resting in what he is done and is doing for us. Buddy Greene is my go-to artist for this one.”

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.

James Mountain was an English revivalist and musician, influenced by the ministry and example of Americans Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey. He also wrote the tunes EVERLASTING LOVE (I Am His and He Is Mine) and WYE VALLEY (Like a River Glorious).

This hymn was said to be China missionary Hudson Taylor’s favorite, and it gave him comfort in troubled times.

“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.”

As J. Hudson Taylor was taking comfort in the words of Ms. Pigott’s hymn, Jean Sophia Pigott’s brother, Thomas Wellesley Pigott, a missionary in China, was martyred during the Boxer Rebellion.

Sources:
Our Home With God: Hymn Devotionals.
Wholesome Words: J. Hudson Taylor, God’s Mighty Man of Prayer by Eugene Myers Harrison.
HymnTIme: Jean Sophia Pigott.