Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Rest in Jesus

Episode Summary

This week, try to unplug from all electronics and just rest in Jesus.

Episode Transcription

SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Here’s a new twist on an old familiar hymn about resting in the Lord.

(Joni sings:)

Jesus, I am resting, resting,

In the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness; vaster, broader than the sea.

O, how marvelous Thy goodness lavished all on me.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

And Thy beauty fills my soul,

For by Thy transforming power,

Thou hast made me whole.

A woman who had learned the secret of resting once wrote a beautiful poem. Her name was Frieda Allen, and this is what she writes:

“Be all at rest, my soul, o blessed secret, Of the true life that glorifies the Lord,

Not always doth the busy soul best serve Him,

But he that resteth on His faithful Word.

Be all at rest, let not your heart be rippled, For tiny wavelets mar the image fair, Which the still pool reflects of heaven’s glory –

And thus the image He would have thee bear.

“Be all at rest for rest is service, To the still heart God doth His secrets tell;

Thus shalt thou learn to wait, watch, and labor,

Strengthened to bear, since Christ in thee do dwell.

For what is service but life in Jesus, Lived through a vessel of earth’s fragile clay,

Loving and giving and poured forth for others, A living sacrifice from day to day.

“Be all at rest, and be an answer, To those who question, ‘Who is God and where?’

For God is rest, and where He dwells is stillness,

And they who dwell in Him, His rest shall share.

And what shall meet the deep unrest around thee,

But the calm peace of God that filled His breast?

For still a living Voice calls to the weary.

From Him who said, ‘Come unto me and rest.’”

Oh, those are such good words. Always, and always Jesus is telling us to rest because we are such busy, busy people, not just at work, but in our Christian service. Even that can get way busy. And so, friend, as Sunday morning approaches – as worship day approaches – would you enter into the Lord’s Sabbath rest? Listen to him call to you, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy ladened and I will give you rest.”

SHAUNA: That’s right, friend. Be sure to unplug this weekend. Put down that iPhone; stay away from your electronic devices. Turn off the TV and take a break from binge watching your favorite shows. Please know it’s not a matter of over-work, but overflow. There is no effort in overflow, just rest in Jesus.