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.
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.
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.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Joseph Scriven, 1855,
"God gives us so many gifts that we could nevert begin to count them all, but one gift that is greatly noted and greatly valued is the gift of friendship. A meaningful friendship includes the natural exchange of giving and receiving. Eleanor Rosevelt said, many peope will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
Provers 18:24 describes a friend who will stick closer than a brother.
Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin , Ireland in 1819, where he received a good education, plenty of this world's goods and a loving family. At 23 years of age he was engaged, but tragedy struck on the eve of his wedding day. His bride to be, whilst crossing the bend of a river, was thrown from her horse and drowned in full view of her fiancee, who was awaiting her arrival on the other side. A couple of years after this heartbreaking event, Joseph Scriven emigrated to Canada where he lived a simple, obscure life as a tutor, but devoted his extra time to being a helper to those in need, earning him the honourable title: he good samaritan of Porthope. He kept firewood for widows, reached out to the handicapped and poor and gave away his money and clothing to those in need. Nearly 20 years later he fell in love again, this time to Elisa Roche. They became engaged, but tradically she contracted tuberculosis and after 3 years of illnes she, too, passed away. The well known hymn, what a friend we have in Jesus was born out of a heart of great sorrow and deep searching. Most accounts indicate that Mr Scriven wrote this poem and sent it to his mother who was undergoing personal difficulty, but one account indicates that he wrote this poem in repsonse to Mrs. Scriven's deep concern for his lingering berievement. Whatever the inspiration for this poem originally entitled: Pray Without Ceasing, it has brought countless blessing to millions over the 150 years that it has been sung. Scriven never took credit for this hymn until 30 years later, prior to his death in 1836. A caring friend discovered Joseph's orignial manuscript of the hymn whilst searching a draw on behalf of his patient. He asked, how did you come to write such a beautiful hymn? On his death bed, Scriven replied, the Lord and I did it between us. Perhaps it's the simplicity and lack of profundity in the words, in union with the simple and memorable melody that endears this hymn to both young and old alike. No words of explaination are needed to further clarify the meaning of this hymn, no matter what the difficulty we face, the hymn repeatedly instructs us to take it to the Lord in prayer.
Jesus, I lay before You all that concerns my heart. The peace robbers such as loneliness, physical pain, emotional turmoil, unconfessed sin, needless worry, deep sorrow and You don't want me to bear these burdens alone. I cast all my cares upon You because You care so deeply for me. You carried out the ultimate sacrifice of friendslip when You died for my sins and You draw the most the beautiful picture of a true friend through Your immortal words, Greater love has no one than this when he layed down his life for his friends."
(Brooksyne Weber)
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