Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China, said this, “China is not to be won for Christ by quiet, ease-loving men and women.” As a teenager, Taylor felt the call to go to China and introduce Christ to the Chinese people. The next few years, he worked hard, learning Mandarin and the rudiments of medicine. When he arrived, he was different than the few missionaries who were already there. He did something radical–he dressed like the Chinese and grew a pigtail, to the shock of the other missionaries. He worked hard at translating the Bible. While there, he suffered from illness, depression, grief. His wife died at age 33, four of their eight children died before the age of ten. He worked tirelessly. In the last few months of his life, Taylor was so weak and feeble he said, “I am so weak I cannot write. I cannot read my Bible. I cannot even pray. All I can do is lie still in the arms of God as a little child, trusting Him.”

This morning, when I got up, waiting for the right words to write today, I was tired. My night had been long and I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t know what I might write to encourage others when I felt so tired and without words. Then I read about Hudson Taylor. This giant of a missionary who worked tirelessly to tell the good news of Christ to the Chinese. Yet, at some point, he had to lie still in the arms of God as a little child and trust. That’s comforting to me. At times, all we can do is rest–lie still and cease striving–in the arms of God, just as a little child.

Often I go to the Bible to get hope and comfort. At times, all we need to do is rest in God’s arms instead of being strong. There are many places where the Bible tells us to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9). To “wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage” (Psalm 27: 14). But sometimes we need to rest in the arms of God. To lie still as a little child.

I can remember when my children were young and it was past their bedtime, they would become restless and naughty. The best thing for them at that time, was to put them to bed. To help them let go and rest.

That’s what I need to do today. To let down and rest in the arms of God, just as Hudson Taylor had to do.

How about you? Do you need to “cease striving” and rest in God? God gives us permission at times to do just that. To rest in the arms of God.

Enjoy the harmony of this hymn, “My Faith has Found a Resting Place”.

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