The Story Behind The Song

Speaking of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," (yesterday's post), I wanted to investigate (with the help of various sources) the story behind the song. This beautiful hymn was written by Joseph Scriven, born in Dublin in 1820. Tragedy followed him wherever he went. The night before he was to be wed, his beloved accidentally drowned in a local pond. Distraught, he sought to distract himself by traveling, and ended up spending most of his life in Canada. A second fiancee died of pneumonia before they were able to be married. After experiencing these griefs, Scriven devoted the rest of his life to serving the poor and lonely. In an ironic twist, Scriven himself died by drowning.

The hymn was actually written as a poem to his mother who was very sick back in Ireland. A friend who was visiting Scriven noticed the poem and asked who had written it. Scriven replied: "The Lord and I did it between us."

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything 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 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.