March 30 | What a Friend | What a Friend we have in Jesus | Maron Gaffron

“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!” Joseph Scriven had written this song as a poem to encourage his mother who was ill. But he, himself, had suffered 2 tragic losses, and faced physical ailments of his own. Yet despite all the sorrow he faced in his lifetime, his primary focus was serving others in need, and walking humbly with his God. For Scriven, prayer was an anchor in a very tumultuous sea! What inspiration can we draw from Scriven’s example? In John 15:15, Jesus said, “I have called you friends.” Are we living lives of prayerful intimacy with our Savior and friend? Are we truly taking everything to God in prayer?