Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

Think what Spirit dwells within thee, Think what Father’s smiles are thine, Think that Jesus died to win thee, Child of heaven, canst thou repine?

These last few weeks I have had an internal battle to trust the Lord and lean fully on Him. It seems that we went from a time of great comfort and ease – feeling settled here in Japan, enjoying and thriving in the work God has called us to here, loving being a little family of four and the time we have together, feeling healthy and capable – to a time of uncertainty and, from that, discomfort – mostly pertaining to our future and wondering where we will be in 5 short months, but also having several sicknesses hit us over and over again and the frustrations of dealing with that with little ones and in a different language.

As a side note, I want to preface this saying that I know things could be a lot worse and I do not want to sound like I am complaining. God has been SO GOOD to us and I can’t praise and thank Him enough for his blessings, goodness and care. I am a sinner, though, and I struggle to trust in that Love to continue to uphold us in the future. When I am uncomfortable, or when my kids are in pain, it is hard to rejoice in it and bless the name of the Lord. I wish I didn’t struggle like this, but I do.

As I cried to Eric a few days ago about some of the things going on with us, and particularly the fears in my heart about the future, he told me, “This is good! We need this. We were starting to coast and we need to be reminded of our desperate need for God. I don’t like this, but it’s good for me.” So true!! I love that God won’t give me the comfort I want or the self-assurance I think I need if it keeps me from clinging to Him. Well, I say I love it. The logical part of my mind, that knows it’s best to cling to Christ loves it. My flesh, the part of me that literally aches for my creature comforts doesn’t love it. So I need constant reminders that I do, in fact LOVE this place we are in. My Savior placed me here, and I can believe with certainty that it is for my good.

Anyway, on to the the title of this post. I love most hymns. I love having them playing in our home. I love the deep truths found in them, often straight from scripture, that, as music, stay in my mind and on my lips and point me to Jesus. This one, an old favorite, has been “dusted off” and played often of late. A few of the stanzas have been particularly precious reminders to me several times these last few days and I wanted to share them here. But when I was looking at all the lyrics, I just couldn’t decide which words to post so I am sharing all six verses, with the ones I’ve been especially clinging to in bold. But really, all the words are so good so I hope you’ll take the time to read and enjoy the insights of this man from centuries ago, still true, still relevant in our lives as we walk this path of grace until glory.

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

By: Henry Lyte

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Tags: Thoughts