WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS (1855)

Compiled by Mrs Joylie S.Thanglien www.zogam.com

……..the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6_7

Joseph Scriven watched in shock as the body of his fiancée was pulled from the lake. Their wedding had been planned for the next day. Reeling from the tragedy, he made up his mind to immigrate to America.

Packing up his belongings in Dublin, Ireland, he sailed for Canada, leaving his mother behind. He was about 25 years old.

Ten years later, in 1855, he received word that his mother was facing a crisis. Joseph wrote this poem and sent it to her.Mrs.Scriven evidently gave a copy to a friend who had it published anonymously, and it quickly became a popular hymn, though no one knew who had written it.

Meanwhile, Joseph fell in love again. But tragedy struck a second time when his bride, Eliza Catherine Roche, contracted tuberculosis and died in 1860 before their wedding could take place. He lived a simple , obscure life in Port Hope, Canada, cutting firewood for windows, giving away his clothes and money to those in need. He was described as “a man of short stature, with iron gray hair, close cropped beard, and light blue eyes that sparkled when he talked.” Ira Sankey later wrote:

Until a short time before his death it was not known that he had a poetic gift. A neighbor, sitting up with him in his illness, happened upon a manuscript copy of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Reading it with great delight and questioning Mr. Scriven about it, he said that he had composed it for his mother, to comfort her in time of special sorrow, not intending that anyone else should see it. Sometime later, when another Port Hope neighbor asked him if it was true he composed the hymn, his reply was, “The Lord and I did it between us.”

On October 10, 1896, Joseph became critically ill. In his delirium, he rose from his bed and staged outdoors where he fell into a small creek and drowned at age 66.His grave was arrange so that at the resurrection they might arise facing one another.

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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! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptation? Is there trouble any where? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we fine 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 loud 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.