What a friend we have in Jesus

Click here to see the Chinese version 点击这里 阅读华文版 I have been a christian for a number of years, but I only heard of this extremely popular hymn lately. How embarassing :) Hope you like this hymn too :)

What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Vocal - Marge Lawrence, Beautiful voice, great piano! 试听 Listen Fize Size: 0.62 MB, Format: MP3 What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Instrumental 试听 Listen Fize Size: 0.6 MB, Format: MIDI

D G What a friend we have in Jesus, D A All ours sins and griefs to bear, D G What a privilege to carry A D Everything to God in prayer! A D O what peace we often forfeit, G D A O what needless pain we bear, D G All because we do not carry A D 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.

Who wrote this hymn?
Joseph Scriven, 1819–1886

Joseph Scriven had wealth, education, a devoted family, and a pleasant life in his native Ireland. Then unexpected tragedy entered. On the night before Scriven’s scheduled wedding, his fiancée drowned. In his deep sorrow, Joseph realized that he could find the solace and support he needed only in his dearest friend, Jesus.

Soon after this tragedy, Scriven dramatically changed his lifestyle. He left Ireland for Port Hope, Canada, determined to devote all of his extra time in being a friend and helper to others. He often gave away his clothing and possessions to those in need, and he worked—without pay—for anyone who needed him. Scriven became known as “the Good Samaritan of Port Hope.” When Scriven’s mother became ill in Ireland, he wrote a comforting letter to her, enclosing the words of his newly written poem with the prayer that these brief lines would remind her of a never-failing heavenly Friend. Sometime later, when Joseph Scriven himself was ill, a friend who came to call on him happened to see a copy of these words scribbled on scratch paper near his bed. The friend read the lines with interest and asked, “Who wrote those beautiful words?”

“The Lord and I did it between us,” was Scriven’s reply.