1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
The words of this hymn were written by Joseph Scriven, a man that had suffered much tragedy in his life. The day before his wedding his fiancé had drowned in a lake. Brokenhearted he decided to move from Ireland to Canada to start a new life. His mother stayed behind and Ireland and word came that she was gravely ill. He wrote her a poem that became the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.
He fell in love once again, and before the wedding could take place his beloved Eliza contracted tuberculosis and died. He never married. In his later years he became ill and his friend found the words to his poem. He had never intended his poetry to be published but the words were to beautiful not to be heard by others. His death was also a tragedy, he was ill and delirious, walked outside, fell into a creek and drowned.
God use the tragedies in Joseph’s life to bless generations with the wonderful words of his writings. It is obvious that his love for the Lord gave him peace even in tragedy.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Center for Evangelists 
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