Story of a Hymn

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JOSEPH SCRIVEN was a little Irish boy born in County Down, Ireland, in 1820. As he grew older he went to school and finally graduated from Trinity College, Dublin. When he was 25 he went to live in Canada.
A great sorrow came into his life when the young lady who was to become his bride was drowned the evening before their wedding day. Joseph Scriven never forgot her and his great sorrow.
For 40 years he preached Christ in the area around Port Hope, Ontario, laboring to give to the poor people there what spiritual and material help he could. He was known as “the man who saws wood for poor widows and such people as are unable to pay.” In 1886 Joseph Scriven, like his fiancée years before him, was drowned, in Lake Ontario.
The beautiful hymn, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” had been sung around the world, but for many years no one knew who wrote it. Then one evening, during Joseph Scriven’s last illness, a neighbor, who was sitting up with him, discovered a manuscript of this well-known hymn. Reading it with great delight, he questioned Joseph about it, who admitted that “he had composed it for his mother to comfort her in a time of special sorrow, not intending that any one should see it.” His sweet hymn has been the means of bringing hope and cheer to thousands throughout the world.
Do we, dear reader, day by day take advantage of the privilege that is ours of taking “everything to God in prayer”? How many of us seem to think that God is only interested in our big problems, and so we never ask Him to share and solve our small ones. But Joseph Scriven was correct when he wrote that we should carry “everything” to God in prayer.
“But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:66Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6).
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.
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.
Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, 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 arm He’ll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Scripture Verse: “TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO: AND WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.” Proverbs 22:66Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6).
Scripture Verse: “BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT HEARETH ME, WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES, WAITING AT THE POSTS OF MY DOORS.” Proverbs 8:3434Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:34).
ML-08/23/1964