Lyrics
Verse 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!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Verse 2
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.
Verse 3
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
What A Friend We Have In Jesus is a hymn about the privilege of bringing every burden to God in prayer. The first stanza marvels at a friend who bears all sins and griefs, and says that peace and pain depend on whether everything is carried to God in prayer. The second stanza asks whether the weak and heavy-laden, burdened with a load of care, should remember that the Savior is still a refuge, and says that when friends despise or forsake, the answer is to take it to the Lord.
The third stanza recalls the promise that He will bear every burden, asks to be brought continually before Him in earnest prayer, and looks ahead to glory where prayer will give way to rapture, praise and endless worship. The ideas follow Proverbs 18:24 on a friend who sticks closer than a brother, 1 Peter 5:7 on casting cares on Him, and Philippians 4:6 on prayer instead of anxiety. The plain, gentle melody and familiar wording give the hymn a comforting, trusting tone.
Related Scripture
- Proverbs 18:24 There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- 1 Peter 5:7 Believers cast all their anxiety on God because He cares.
- Philippians 4:6 Believers are urged to bring everything to God in prayer instead of being anxious.