Once a month I take time to share one of my favorite hymns. This month I have chosen What A Friend We Have In Jesus" which has been a personal favorite of mine for years.
Some hymns are my favorites because of the lyrics, some because of the melody, and some because of the story of its writing. "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" qualifies for me in all three categories.
I have found Him faithful in bearing my sins and griefs and giving me peace in return. Truly He knows my every weakness and He shares all my sorrows. He shields me and is my source of solace in this crazy world. What a friend He is to me! And I can always go to Him and He is there. The words are my testimony and that makes it a favorite.
But the story behind the hymn also makes it a favorite. Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1819. He fell for a lovely young woman, but on the eve of their wedding she accidentally drowned. Scriven never recovered from the shock.
The Irishman began to wander, hoping to forget his sorrow. At age 25, he finally settled in Canada. His faith led him to do menial tasks for poor widows and the sick and He often worked for no wages. He later fell in love again and planned to marry a wonderful Canadian woman. But again, tragedy struck. His fiance died after contracting pneumonia.
In 1855, a friend visited an ill Scriven and discovered a poem that he had written for his ailing mother in faraway Ireland. Scriven didn't have the money to visit her, but he sent her the poem as an encouragement. He called it "Pray Without Ceasing." Scriven never intended for the poem to be published, but it made its rounds, and was set to music in 1868 by musician Charles Converse, who titled it "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Scriven died in 1886, ironically, in an accidental drowning. In his memory, the town of Port Hope Ontario erected a monument with this inscription from Scriven's famous song: "In His arms He'll take and shield thee. Thou wilt find a solace there".
Since its publication, this music has been a real inspiration and comfort to many. Possibly today you are facing a trial and need a friend. Jesus is there to bear that burden for you. Just take it to Him in prayer.
(1) What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our
sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to
God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what
needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to
God in prayer.
(2) Have we trials and temptations? Is
there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to
the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will
all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to
the Lord in prayer.
(3) Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to
the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take
it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you
will find a solace there.
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