What A Friend!

Some of our most lovely hymns that have blessed and encouraged thousands of hearts down through the years have been birthed in sorrow.  Such is the story behind our hymn for today,

     "If you travel to Port Hope, Canada, you will find a monument with the name Joseph Scriven inscribed and three verses of the hymn, 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus.'
      Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland in 1820.  After graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, he became engaged to a lovely Irish girl, and she accidentally drowned the day before they were to be married.
      When Joseph was 25, he left his home to sail on a long and hard sea voyage to Canada.  There, for many years, he gave his life to the underfed, the poor, the handicapped.  Though poor and underfed himself, he would give away the little he had, even his own clothing.  No service was too menial if he could relieve another's heartache and misery.  Perhaps this was because he had many heartaches of his own and thus was able to understand others' needs.

      Once again Joseph became engaged to a young Christian lady.  Again, his fiancee died from a short illness before they were to be married.  In those days, when there was no airmail, letters to and from his mother back in Ireland took many weeks to be delivered.  Once, after learning that she had a great sorrow and was ill, he wrote a letter.  At its end he composed the verses of 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus' for her comfort.

      When some of Scriven's friends came to visit him during his final illness, they found a copy of the verses and asked Joseph about them.  Briefly he replied, 'The Lord and I did it between us.'  Later the verses were set to music by Charles Converse.  The hymn was first published in 1870 in a small Sunday School songbook called Silver Wings. 
How wonderful, true, and comforting are the words of this hymn!  We can always take everything to our Friend and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  He listens, cares, and meets all of our needs."

     "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
     Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, 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 Saviour, still our Refuge!  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
      Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there,"