What a Friend We Have in Jesus
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.
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!
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.

First Line: What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear
Title: What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Author: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855)
Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
Place of Origin: Ireland
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
Liturgical Use: Prayer Songs

Text:
Scriven’s text has remained largely unchanged since it was first published in 1857. The verses build on one another, carrying the same theme throughout: first raising the questions we have about our pain and sorrow, and then answering those questions with assurance of God’s power and love. As the editors in the Psalter Hymnal Handbook write, the text “is not great poetry,” but it has “spiritual appeal and an effective repeated phrase, ‘take it to the Lord in prayer.’” Albert Bailey goes so far as to describe the repetition as “doggerel,” but adds that this provides a good teaching tool (The Gospel in Hymns, 495).

Tune:
The tune CONVERSE, written by Charles C. Converse, in 1868, is almost universally paired with Scriven’s text. It is a tune that speaks of assurance and hope, and with its uplifting melody, there is a temptation to play it too quickly. The text, though, demands adequate consideration as you sing, and though the tune is hopeful, the weight of the words and the sorrow that is implied should give cause to slow the tempo and play with an expressive ear. A good example of this is found in an arrangement by Chelsea Moon and the Franz Brothers.

A good alternative to CONVERSE is the tune BEACH SPRING, attributed to B. H. White, which Emily Brink paired with Scriven’s text in the Psalter Hymnal. This is a far more melancholy tune that brings out the darker side of the text. It would be especially fitting to use this tune when singing this hymn in a time of great sorrow for your congregation; the assurance is needed, but in the context of very real pain. To hear a version of the hymn using this tune, check out this rendition done for a prayer service at Calvin College, on the college’s website under Faith & Worship/LOFT/Archives/LOFT 201011/Feb. 6, starting at around 18:00.

When/Why/How:
This is a hymn that acknowledges the pain we experience in life, and then assures us of the comfort we have in Christ. It would be fitting during most services as a hymn of response after the Prayers of the People, or after a time of confession. It’s especially appropriate during a service themed around God’s hand of mercy in times of suffering, or when we need a reminder of our call to pray without ceasing, even when life gets rough. Try pairing this song with the modern hymn, “Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer,” or a more subdued, slower version of the wellloved contemporary song, “Blessed Be Your Name.”

Suggested music:

Fedak, Alfred. What a Friend We Have In Jesus for Choir, using the tune SCARLET RIBBONS, a traditional English melody
Hayes, Mark. What a Friend for Choir
Raney, Joel. What a Friend We Have In Jesus for Children's Choir and Adult Choir
Wagner, Douglas. What a Friend We Have in Jesus for Handbells
Funderburk, Duane. Beach Spring for Piano and Woodwind
Watanabe, Kiyo. Beach Spirig for Handbells
Laura de Jong,
Hymnary.org

I pray that you will enjoy & be blessed with this song! :)
#hymns #WhatAFriendWeHaveInJesus