Having a Friend named Jesus!

I’m sure you have heard the hymn often played in churches all over and radio stations… “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer!” I’ve been singing this song to my kids a lot lately, and looking closer to the words, made me really ponder what this song is really saying. Listen to this recording I made of this song… I did the first and last part of this song without any instruments because I wanted each word to be heard without any distraction. Feel free to look up the entire song, the words are astounding, but for the purpose of this blog I’m only focusing on those two parts because they say so much.

Click the link to hear… if this doesn’t work I posted the Alan Jackson version at the bottom of this post….

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIgLqUrIapMKYLldewuaDt8UDGnIhPNf/view?usp=share_link

First who wrote this song anyway? Here’s a little history of this song, it can really tell you how amazing this song really is to have come from a grief stricken heart, filled with the Holy Spirit. This song was written by Joseph Scriven. Joseph was a devoted member of a Brethren Church who lost the love of his life the day before their wedding, when she was thrown from her horse into a river and drowned as he watched from a distance unable to do anything about it. He began to wander in his sorrow, and ended up in Port Hope, Canada from Ireland. He then met another wonderful young woman, who ended up dying of pneumonia before they could even get married. Joseph was a man who cared for others even in his pain. He would always be there to help those in need, and when asked about this poem from a friend, he said that “The Lord and I did it between us” and this poem was just meant as a comfort for his sick mother in Ireland.

What a song to lift the spirits of those who are heavy laden. The first part of the song I mentioned above… “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer!”… Don’t we always seek the ear and guidance from our friends when we are feeling burdened by something? But sometimes our friends aren’t always there right? or they aren’t even as reliable as we hoped. Jesus is! He’s always there… right there in the room with us at all times no matter where we are. All we have to do is speak to him, he has made himself available to us to put all our sins and griefs upon through prayer.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ” 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ” 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy , and my burden is light.”

The next part of the song really hit me because of the truth in it, for those who choose not be apart of Gods kingdom, but also for those who are in Gods kingdom, that forget what a friend we have in Jesus. “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! ” We forfeit peace and we deal with so much pain that we wouldn’t have to deal with if we would give it to God. How many times do we try to solve our own problems? or turn to someone else to help us before we ask God for help?

Getting on our knees to ask God for guidance, or for the Holy Spirit to bring us peace, seems to be the last resort. Why is that? Scripture tells us over and over to trust in God, to lay our burdens at his feet, to release all our fears and anxiety to him and find comfort. All we have to do is ask, to pray. Jesus didn’t die for nothing. He died for our sins and our burdens, he took all of it with him to the cross for us to be washed clean. Do we deserve it? No! But it doesn’t matter if we think we deserve it, because “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16. Colossians 2: 13-14 says ” 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Jesus took it all because he loved us first.

He didn’t die so you could only worship him in the good times, he is a friend for everyday, in all things. For the pain, heartache and despair. He’s there for the Joys and praise, and he is there when it’s just another day. He’s the friend we need. He longs for us to want to be in constant contact with him, and the peace that comes with having a friend like Jesus is indescribable.

The last part of this song is a promise of what is to come and is so beautifully put…

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised. Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, there will be no need for prayer. Rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

There will be a day that this pain and suffering we deal with in this sinful world, the stresses of life, will all be gone. Jesus provided a way for us to live eternity in a constant state of beauty, joy and love in his amazing presence with praise and endless worship. He has provided a place for us. All we need to do is trust in him, allow him to be a part of our lives, let the Holy Spirit dwell in us and dedicate our lives to Christ. This life isn’t always going to be easy but Christ makes the burden light and provides us a glorious promise.

Revelation 21: 1-5 “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

We have a friend in Jesus to help us through this life we are living here on earth. We have a friend in Jesus who died for our sins and death was defeated when he rose 3 days later and returned to heaven after 40 days. We have a friend who promises a glorious end for those who put their trust in Him. He will never leave us even in our moments of doubt and weakness, he will be there to pick up the pieces and put us back on the right path. We aren’t worthy of his love and kindness but he gives it freely, He paid the price for us. So next time you are looking for a friend, remember, our forever friend Jesus is always there…. Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus….Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; So take it to the Lord in prayer!

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God Bless you all,

Covering Christian Mom