Rest your weary soul …
A young man named George Matheson, grew up in Scotland in a loving family, with three sisters. The gospel was taught from a young age, and George yearned to serve the Lord. But something was wrong...he was having a hard time seeing. It was far more than the need for glasses, by the age of 15, George was told by the best Dr’s that he was going blind.
He was determined to still go to the University of Glasgow, which he did, then went to Seminary to grow in his knowledge in serving his Lord. His dear sisters tutored him in order that he would do well. He graduated on top of his class, and had fallen deeply in love during this time. Life was beautiful!
But as his eye sight became worse, his girlfriend became distant. She ended their relationship as she was unable to see herself married to a blind man. George’s heart was broken. All he wanted to do was serve the Lord, but now he had lost his sight completely, and his deepest love had just walked away.
Shortly thereafter, his sister was getting married, and he travelled to the seaside wedding. Later that night, alone, he describes entering into a state of severe mental anguish, unlike anything he’d ever experienced. As sadness seemed to break him, a song came to him in less than 5 minutes. He knew it was from God, for he had never written poetry or music in his life.
“Oh Love, that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be...
Oh Light, that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to Thee...
Oh Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee...”
This hymn was published in 1872 and is still sung throughout the world. Every weary soul knows exactly what George wrote about; that there’s rest in the never-ending love of God, and His Light never fades from sight.
