WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Joseph Scriven was born in Northern Ireland in 1819. He grew up in a loving and wealthy family and was educated and received a degree from Trinity College in Dublin. At the age of 25, he had plans to settle down and marry. Life seemed good. However, the night before the wedding, his future wife tragically drowned in a lake. Heartbroken, Scriven moved to Canada where he devoted his time to leading a Plymouth Brethren fellowship and teaching. Whilst there, he met and fell in love with Eliza Rice and they were soon engaged to be married. However, shortly before the wedding, Eliza became sick with pneumonia and she died that winter before the marriage could take place.
Following her death, Joseph began to help the poor and the handicapped in any way he could and made himself available to come alongside those who were in need and he found comfort and purpose in serving the Lord. But 10 years on from the death of his second fiancé, heartache would strike again as he received word that his mother back home in Northern Ireland was very ill. In the 1840’s, it took a long time to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and the trip was very expensive which meant that Joseph could not go and see his mother. Yet, whilst a trip across the Atlantic was off the cards, Joseph did what he could and he wrote a poem with these amazing words:
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.
Words that went on to become the renowned hymn ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus’. A hymn that has proved extremely popular since its birth, with its appeal continuing to this very day. Numerous renowned recording artists including Bing Crosby, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald have recorded this fabulous hymn over the years with its enduring appeal lying in the truth that it takes us from where we are with all our insecurities and points us to the friend that we have in Jesus and the enormous privilege we have in bringing everything to Him in prayer.
In spite of the trials and the difficulties he faced, Scriven witnessed of the friend that he had in Jesus. A Friend who is always faithful and who is always there .Who provides peace and comfort in the storms of life and the glorious truth is that the invitation to be His friend is there for everyone. If you would like more information about how to become a friend of Jesus, we’d love to help you out on your journey. Don’t hesitate to get in touch via the website. Scriven knew and witnessed of the awesome privilege of bringing everything to God in prayer – be it the greatest miracle or the smallest detail. May we too never forget the amazing privilege we have of bringing everything to God in prayer! If you’ve started the conversation with God, keep on going. If not, why not start a conversation today?
God bless.
[written by Stuart Hunter]
You can listen to all of our Thoughts on Thursday songs on our Spotify playlist.