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!
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.
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.
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.
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Milner, GA, United States
Beautiful. My mom used to sing this when I was a child. Only seven when I lost her but still remember her beautiful voice singing this song.
Hilton Head, SC, United States
Please send me a copy of these lyrics
Berlin, Germany
My spirit is always lifted each time I sing this song.
Detroit, MI, United States
This history by George Beverly Shea in "How Sweet the Sound" is a supplement to Isaac Acosta's posting on 10/18/2011 and mine on 9/27/2013:
Joseph Scriven, a young man from Ireland, was to be married in 1840. The night before the wedding, his bride-to-be accidentally drowned.
Moving to Canada, he became a servant to the underprivileged and physically challenged. Again wedding plans ended with the illness and death of his second fiance.
Despite a life of hardship and illness, Mr. Scriven wrote this hymn as his testimony. Even though we go through difficult trials and grief, Jesus is our Friend, a very present help in times of trouble.
In February, 1953, after Dwight D. Eisenhower had just become president, he asked for prayer support from Senator Frank Carlson and Billy Graham. That year, many members of the House and Senate came together for a combined prayer breakfast. These national leaders gathered with the president to pray, to seek God's guidance, and to express their dependence on Him.
I was sitting next to my friend Russell Hitt, who later became editor of "Eternity" magazine. Soon he was asking, "Are you singing this morning?"
"Oh, no, Russ, I'm just here to listen." We were served toast, bacon and eggs.
Before long I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Abraham Vereide, the gentleman who had been instrumental in organizing the prayer breakfast movement. He said, "My friend, would you come up with me and sing the president's favorite hymn, 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus'?"
Now what was I going to do? I had just finished eating soft eggs, a singer's nemesis. In almost the next minute I was at the microphone, saying to the audience, "If you'd like to sing along, please do."
The next day, back home in Illinois, I turned on "The Today Show" and was so surprised to see the president standing next to me, singing along with all of us:
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
It's more than a hymn, I feel the very present of God around me, like a good father talking to a loving son, I really feel relieved. Praise be the Name of God for ever more.
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Love this song.
Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
I feel good. It's so calmly.
Newark, DE, United States
I love this song. Thx
Bronx, NY, United States
This song was divinely inspired and continues to hold us up and minister to our souls through the years because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! Oh, what a friend...so faithful! He promised never to leave us nor to forsake us - oh what a friend!
Croydon, United Kingdom
Excellent.