One of my favorite hymns is WHAT A FRIEND by Joseph Scriven. It was very intresting to me that a dear lady gave me a booklet on famous hymns and how their writers were inspired to write them.
In 1845 Joseph came to Canada and lived there until his death at the age of 66. His consecration of his life to Christ was the result of a terrible grief which he endured in his early years.
You see the young lady to whom he was engaged to accidently drowned on the night before their wedding day. Mr. Scriven wrote his famous hymn, WHAT A FRIEND, at a time of very special sorrow to bring comfort to his mother. It was only intended for her eyes only. He told a neighbour, "The Lord and I did it between us". What a true blessing this song has been to so many over the years.
You know while we all have earthly friends it is not uncommon for them to fail us in some fashion. They do not mean too but we are all human which means not one of us is a perfect creature. However, there is one that is always there no matter what the need or situation. I am thankful that I can sing the words to this song and believe them.
Here is the first stanza of this song:
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.
You should look up the remaining 2 verses and see if they speak to your heart like they do mine.
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother". Proverbs 18:24
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