(Matthew 18:3.)

“I’M TOO tired to trust and too tired to pray,”
I said one as the overtasked strength gave way;
“The one conscious thought by my trembling expressed
Is, O, could I just drop all and rest!
But will God forgive me, do you suppose,
If I go to sleep as a baby goes,
Without even asking Him if I may,
Without ever trying to trust or pray?”

Will God forgive you? Why, think, dear heart,
While language to you was an unknown art,
Did mother deny you your needed rest,
Or refuse the pillow you on her breast?
Oh, no! But she cradled you in her arms,
And guarded your slumber against alarms,
And how quick was her mother-love to see
The unconscious yearning awake in thee!

When you’ve grown too weary to trust or pray,
Then your overwrought nature has given way,
Then just drop all. Give up and rest
As you used to do on your mother’s breast.
He knows all about it—the dear Lord knows!
So just go to sleep as a baby goes,
Without even asking Him if you may—
God knows when His child is too tired to pray!

He judges not wholly by uttered prayer;
He knows when the yearnings of love are there.
He knows you do pray; He knows you trust,
And He knows the limit of poor weak dust.
Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ
For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,
When He bade them sleep and take their rest,
While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed!
You’ve given your life up to Him to keep—
Then rest in Him, and go to sleep.
—Author Unknown

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