Day: February 21, 2014

This is another part of my series on favorite songs. I’m covering the Hymns first and then going into other songs.

I have listened and sung ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus” since I was very small. And have always loved it. Even though I have to say that for a long time it was just a song I sang at church. The words didn’t really mean alot to me until I was driving down the road and I was alone in my car.

I was having a rough time and not in a good place emotionally or physically. I was tired of Dr’s and life in general. I was feeling like God forgot I was here and that all the things going on in my life was for nothing. I was in a pretty dark place on this particular day. I prayed out loud as the radio was playing in my car. Really it was more of a frustration and I raised my hands in the air and wondered what in the world was God thinking. I was tired and not wanting to deal with anything more on my plate. At that moment, the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, started playing on the radio.

I had to pull off to the side of the road and was bawling by this time. I was so overwhelmed with emotions and peace that I couldn’t drive. While doing this blog post, I have been listening to different versions on youtube and what an awesome reminder and feeling knowing that Jesus is the most loyal and best friend I could ever have.

At that moment the words I heard many times and even hundreds of times became real to me. I seen Jesus in a different light. It was at that point when my prayers became more like conversations and I realized that not only was Jesus my Savior, He is my friend. I have never taken for granted the song since this. It was a answer to my prayers at a time when I needed it.If your having a really hard day or just the reassurance that Jesus loves you and He is there, it may be a good time to listen to this song. And listen with your heart.

Video of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Alan Jackson

What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Lyrics)

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.

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.

History of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Wikipedia– “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s.^[1] The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn. The hymn also has many versions with different lyrics in multiple languages, such as the Japanese version “Itsukushimi Fukaki” (いつくしみ深き^?, lit. “Deep Affection”), or a version sung during World War I with the line “When this bloody war is over” in place of the original title.The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal notes, “In spite of the fact that this hymn, with its tune, has been criticized as being too much on the order of the sentimental gospel type, its popularity remains strong, and the hymn retains a place in modern hymnals.”