What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Nearly every stanza of this hymn ends on the same instruction, "take it to the Lord in prayer," and the lines before it keep supplying new reasons. The opening calls prayer "a privilege," then counts the cost of skipping it: "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."

The second stanza is a short list of troubles, "trials and temptations," trouble "anywhere," and a question that carries the argument: "Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?" The answer, "Jesus knows our every weakness," matches Hebrews 4:15, where Christ is described as one who sympathizes with our weaknesses. The promise to carry "everything" to God in prayer tracks 1 Peter 5:7 and Philippians 4:6.

The last stanza addresses the weary directly: "Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?" That is Matthew 11:28 in a hymn's rhythm, and the closing question about friends who "despise, forsake you" is answered with an image of shelter: "in His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there." Fountainview Academy's recording sings all three stanzas.