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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Pembroke, GA, United States
I am so glad Jesus is my Friend.
Freehold, NJ, United States
We worry and worry and stress and stress and fear and fear, why? Jesus is carrying me right now, He lives in all of us who believe, imagine having God in us, everything around us is God present, I need to live and be happy because He is here with me.
Queens, NY, United States
O Lord Jesus! I am going through a difficult time because of all the stress and anxieties of life but this hymn shows me that even if I am heavy-laden and cumbered with a load of care, the Lord is still my refuge and I can ALWAYS turn to Him for peace!
Jakarta, Indonesia
Thank GOD for inspiration, this is wonderful, JESUS is truly a Friend. PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS.
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Yes Jesus is the only Friend who does not demand anything in return and is always there for you. I love You Jesus.
Lagos, Nigeria
I have been a mess, yet He still says I am overloaded with my burdens and I should bring it to Him. He still wants to be my friend. I love You; Master and Friend.
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Yes. Jesus is the real Friend for us. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He's love—everlasting love.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Inspiring and always in my heart. My rock in all things and all times.
Ketu, Lagos, Nigeria
The highest form of all relationship--friendship--is what our Lord Jesus Christ offers to us. In Him we are truly at peace.
Detroit, MI, United States
Not far from Port Hope, Ontario [east of Toronto on Lake Erie], stands a monument with this inscription: "4 miles north, in Pengally's Cemetery, lies the philanthropist and author of this great masterpiece, written at Port Hope, 1857." Above the inscription are the words of this beloved hymn.
Scriven never intended to publish this hymn. He wrote the words to accompany a letter to his mother, who was ill in far-off Ireland. He had no material resources to send her - only a reminder that the most perfect of friends, Jesus Himself, was nearby. - Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton
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See Isaac Acosta's posting on 10/8/2011 for more on the history of this hymn.
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There is a 4th stanza, which is usually omitted:
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.