WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!

Photo by Diana Simumpande on Unsplash

Did you know that the first title given to the hymn "What a Friend we have in Jesus" was "Pray without Ceasing"? Dwight L. Moody believed to be the most touching modern hymn that he had ever heard. The hymn "What a Friend we have in Jesus" was written by Joseph Scriven (1819-1886). He sent the words to his mother sometime around 1855, when she was ill. The song was composed by Charles Converse in 1868. These comforting lines were written by someone who had known a lot of pain and sorrow.

A portrait of Joseph Scriven

Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin, Ireland. He first attended Addiscombe Military College in England, but withdrew on health grounds, after 2 years. He went on to continue his studies in Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in 1942. He became a teacher, most likely fell in love. In 1843, he was engaged to be married. The wedding date was fixed, and the wedding plans started. A day before the wedding, tragedy struck - the bride-to-be fell from her horse while crossing a bridge over a river and drowned!

He migrated to Canada in 1845 but returned home after a few months because of ill health. He fell in love again, but this time, it was unrequited because the lady was in love with someone else. He returned to Canada in 1847. After some time there, he fell in love again. In 1860, he was engaged to be married. Few weeks before the wedding though, bride-to-be fell ill with pneumonia and before long, she died. Another fiancée, another death.

Even though the popular hymn was published in 1865, Joseph Scriven was not identified as the author until the year he died, in 1886. He published other hymns and verses he wrote, but not this one which has become a favourite through generations. One of his friends, James Sackville, discovered the now popular and well-loved hymn. One night he was looking through Scriven’s papers and asked him "Who wrote this?" Scriven replied, "I wrote it. The Lord and I did it between us. Many years ago my mother was going through a time of great sorrow and I wrote it to comfort her."

It is said that he was ill and depressed before he died. His friend and fellow believer, James Sackville, found him ill and brought him to his house. Few days before he died, he was heard saying "I wish the Lord would take me home." His friend, James Sackville, said, "Two scriptures I heard him repeat, during the last hour I was with him, 'I am the Lord’s' and ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'"

One night, in August 1886, he left the house and went to a nearby spring. He left quietly, such that no one noticed him leaving. James Sackville had left him at about midnight, only to return at about 5 am and Joseph Scriven was not there. Sackville said, "You may imagine my surprise and dismay, when, on visiting his room, I found it empty. All search failed to find any trace of the missing one, until a little after noon, the body was discovered in a water nearby, lifeless and cold in death.” It is not known how he got in the water. Did a faint or fall accidentally? Did the weight of the depression push him to drown himself?

What remains known though is that he was renowned in his community for his preaching and good works. His preaching style has been described as with simple language and quiet, unassuming delivery. His good works too were done silently. Here is how one article tells the facts: "For years he tended the cow of a Port Hope widow and carried the milk to her customers; he sawed wood for those who could not pay; he sold his watch, brought from Ireland, to replace someone’s lost cow; and more than he could well spare he gave to the needy." He was called "The good man", by many people in his community, and that was how he was known even 35 years after his death.

How could someone who had suffered so much pain and frustration be such a source of hope and joy in his community? How did one who had suffered such losses persist in preaching the gospel and proclaiming the grace and mercies of God with his words and his life? How could he have written such a beautiful song that is still a favourite centuries after? Perhaps the answer is in the words of the hymn. He had found a friend in Jesus, so faithful to share every sorrow and bear every burden, and he had the hope of a glorious eternity, where there will be endless worship of the one true God!

What hinders you from worship? How are you encouraged by this story? I would like to read from you. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.