Hello Amazing Reader,
I’m so sorry our review post is coming later than usual. Thank you so much for being here.
In our last meditation post, we talked about the Privilege of Prayer which was inspired by the hymn, What a Friend we have in Jesus.
I did some more digging on the hymn and discovered that it was originally written as a poem by Joseph M. Scriven in 1855, while its tune was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. This year, 2026 makes it 171 years since it was released, and it’s still blessing lives all over the world!
Over time, it has become a traditional public domain hymn because there are many versions of it, and several music ministers have recorded it.
Maybe like me, you’ve sang this hymn numerous times, but haven’t taken time to meditate on its lyrics. I invite you to do so today. Read through the lines, pause, pray, meditate, and I hope it ministers to you in a new and deeper way.
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.
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Source: Lydia Walker