Xanthe Hancox

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  John 15:13

Irish-born Joseph Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding in 1845, his fiancé died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. There he again fell in love, was due to be married when young woman suddenly fell ill of pneumonia and died.

In 1855, while staying with companion James Sackville, he received news from Ireland that his mother was terribly ill. He wrote a poem to comfort his her called "Pray Without Ceasing", you might recognise it:

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.

Almost 30 years later, a friend was sitting with Scriven who was very ill. During this visit, the friend was impressed to discover Scriven’s poems, including a copy of the one he sent to his mother. As a result of this visit, Scriven’s poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, Charles C Converse put music to one of those poems to give us the hymn we know today as ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’.

Joseph Scriven faced real tragedies in his life. He never married, and his later life was plagued with loneliness, poor health, meagre finances and depression. But he could write with conviction, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” He knew that God could bring peace to troubled hearts who seek him.

Instead of becoming discouraged when we face trials, temptations, or troubles, Scriven wrote that we simply should “take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Today, remember that Jesus is your friend. Take your problems to him, no matter how insurmountable they may seem. Talk with him. Spend time with him. He loves you so much that he died for you!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for being my friend. I want to know you more, and serve you with my life. Thank you for laying down your life for me. Amen

Listen to the hymn here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-KPU21y3TA