Stories Behind Popular Hymns: Gaither HomecomingSampel

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

Life today can sometimes seem like the Israelites’ wandering in the wilderness: journeying to a destination yet unseen, decades of pain and loss, witnessing God’s provision time and again, only to fall into despair and unbelief and sin over and over. The truly miserable part is that if only the Israelites had stuck to the truth—that God had freed them, that He had continued to provide for them, that He prepared a wonderful home for them—rather than become shortsighted and doubt Him, they would have known peace. They would have entered His rest. Instead, “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:18).

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There were a few Israelites who did believe, who trusted God with their lives no matter the circumstances, and they had the privilege of leading the next generation into the Promised Land. And He offers His rest to us as well, if only we would believe: “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest” (Heb. 4:1-3).

Eliza E. Hewitt knew all about needing a resting place. In her early adulthood she suffered an injury that would leave her bedridden for nearly the rest of her life. As she struggled with spinal problems, spending so many days in extreme pain and discomfort, rather than wallowing in self-pity and giving in to discouragement, she spent her time in bed writing songs of praise. Hewitt grew to understand the significance and longing for peace and that true rest comes only from one Source. The truth affirmed in her song “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” proved to be an encouragement to Hewitt, to her loved ones, and still to believers today.