WHY WORRY? YOU HAVE A FRIEND 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 your friends despise, forsake you?

    Take it to the Lord in prayer!

   In his arms he'll take and shield you;

   you will find a solace there.

Historical Background 
The above poem, which was later turned into a hymn, was written by Joseph M. Scriven who was born in  Ireland in 1819. He was an Irish immigrant to Canada who wrote this text near Port Hope, Ontario, in 1855. Because his life was filled with grief and trials, Scriven often needed the solace of the Lord as described in his famous hymn.

He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, after which he enrolled in a military college to prepare for an army career. However, he was unable to fulfil his ambition because of poor health. Following this setback, his fiancée died in a drowning accident on the eve of their wedding in 1844.  About ten years later, he decided to remarry. However, His plans for marriage were dashed again when his new bride-to-be died after a short illness in 1855. Following this calamity Scriven seldom had a regular income, and he was forced to live in the homes of others. He was member of the Plymouth Brethren and  he tried to live according to the Sermon on the Mount as literally as possible. He lead his life by giving and sharing all he had and often doing menial tasks for the poor and physically disabled. He later died by drowning in Rice Lake but because he suffered from depression, no one knew if his death by drowning was suicide or an accident.

Commentary

As long as we live in this fleshly bodies, we will encounter many adversities and challenges. These challenges can shake our faith in the providence and protection in the Lord. In the midst of this uncertainty, we must make every effort to remember that the good Lord is still with us in our good and bad times. He has promised never to forsake us but to bring us to an expected end. He has good plans for us if we never give up our trust in Him. He has promised to be with us whether we pass through the fires or waters - these would not consume us. 

We can weather the storms if we come to the same realization as Paul and be persuaded that "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 (King James Version).

I pray that the Lord will help you to deal with any situation that is tormenting your life today and come out of it victoriously in Jesus's name. You were created to be victorious. Make Jesus your friend today by inviting Him into your life and trusting in Him daily.