No doubt you recall the hymn, "What a Friend we have in Jesus". Just typing out these words has me humming the tune. It always seemed like such a happy, upbeat song, especially for children. Not so!

I looked up the background of the hymn and was blown away. The author, Joseph Scriven, experienced terrific tragedy and grief throughout much of his life. Irish-born, he attended Trinity College in Dublin and was planning on marriage upon graduation.

On the day before the wedding, his fiancée was riding her horse by the bank of a river, when the horse was spooked and threw her against rocks. She rolled into the river and drowned. Overcome by grief, Scriven left his family and friends in Ireland and emigrated to Canada at the age of 25. His intent was to live a lifestyle based on the Sermon on the Mount where he would serve those in need.

Soon, however, he fell in love with a young Canadian woman, and they planned on marriage. Yet, prior to the wedding, she contracted pneumonia and died. Then, during this same period of his life, in 1844, he learned that his mother was seriously ill. Not having the necessary funds to go home to Ireland, he wrote three verses and mailed them to her. These verses became the hymn, "What a Friend we have in Jesus".

Think of this hymn in the context of Joseph Scriven's life, and sing out his words on prayer:

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Let that verse roll around inside you and reflect on the needless pain that we carry.

Needless pain comes when we think that time cures all. Needless pain appears when we are helpless and do not turn to God. Rather than carry everything to God, we tend to deny or avoid our grief and sweep it under the carpet. Pain soon is repressed, and we carry it as a useless weight.

Joseph Scriven knew well — as do many of us who have suffered — that Jesus opens the door for us to pray. Hear His invitation: "If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it." (John 14:14 NRSV) Our prayer is living prayer. It is ongoing — and it is two-way. We let the Lord know. We might ask for anything, a little thing, perhaps everything, but when through asking, we hear the silence.

We wait. We listen. We hear the Word. "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you." (Matthew 11:28-29a NRSV)

A friend cares. What a Friend we have in Jesus! He will help us to carry the weight and the burden, and heal the needless pain, and it makes a difference — all the difference in the world. So go ahead and join the chorus. Sing it out, and join me in taking it to the Lord in prayer:

Prayer: Lord, You know my weaknesses and the burdens I carry. I need Your help. I cannot do it on my own. I know You have suffered. Yet I believe You have risen from the dead. You are the Lord of my life. I ask for Your yoke. I know You care. What a Friend we have in You, Jesus! Thank You. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Robin Jennings <robintjennings@gmail.com>
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Send your feedback to the author