What a Friend we have in Jesus

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.
846
Jen

Bundaberg, Australia

In this world of Christian loneliness, this song is a real blessing as it tells us we have always have a friend we can walk with and talk to and He will take the load from us. If only we would take "everthing to God in prayer" and not try and handle everthing ourselves.


Joy Kim

Fullerton, CA, U.S.A.

I enjoy this hymn because it reminds me that I don't have to bear my burdens alone, and that in fact, I don't have to bear them at all. My favorite lines from this hymn are "Oh what peace we often forfeit / Oh what needless pain we bear / All because we do not carry / Everything to God in prayer." We have no need to suffer! Just take it to the Lord in prayer. Prayer doesn't have to be something grandiose and eloquent. Simply by putting "Lord," in front of all our complaints or thanks, we are practically fellowshipping with this wonderful Friend we have in Jesus.


Morris Rainville

U.S.A.

As a teenager, this hymn saved my life. I was very depressed and wanted to end it all — and I was afraid that I really would end it all. One day, as I listened to this hymn, the clouds of depression just floated away. Pure heavenly sunlight flooded my soul and I have been blest with Christ's presence ever since.


Gregory Ross

WV, U.S.A.

No matter how bad things seem to get God can still make it better. Take it to Him in prayer and I promise that you will rise up feeling better because He truely loves us and can take any situation and make good out of it. I am a Truck Driver gone from home 15 days at a time and yesterday I broke my leg. My first thought was what will I do for money, but you know if I went back out on the road at this time I may have been killed and it would be more like what will my family do without me. I can just use this time to attend church which is rare for me to do on a regular basis.


Sonia Bradford

United Kingdom

The hymn is very precious to me and my family.


Ellen Yula

Chester, NJ, U.S.A.

My beloved grandmother used to sing this to me when I was a little girl and stayed with her. My uncle (her son) is fighting with his brother over money and I told him how silly that was, and that his mother would be upset to think any of her 11 children would fight over money. And I quoted this hymn in wishing he'd turn the problem over to God...and couldn't remember all the words. And then I found your website...you can't know how grateful I am. Wow! Surely my Gram and God brought me swiftly to the right place to find the help my uncle needs. Thanks ever so much. PS I'm 54, my uncle is 79 and Gram's been gone 41 years...still I hear her and see her kindly face. I guess my uncles can't see her as clearly...

Piano Hymns