I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the old hymns.
Today’s song is What a Friend We Have in Jesus
It’s a song that has been popular in evangelical churches here in Ireland throughout my life, although, like most other old hymns, some churches have replaced it with modern worship songs. It’s basically an encouragement to prayer. I often find myself reflecting on it or quoting it.
I was curious as to how old it actually is. Joseph M. Scriven, an Irishman, originally wrote it in 1855 as a poem titled “Pray Without Ceasing.”. While he was living in Canada, he wrote it for his mother back in Ireland. Scriven experienced deep sorrow—his fiancée died the night before their wedding, and later, a second fiancée also passed away. His suffering shaped the hymn’s message of finding solace in Christ. Scriven wasn’t really a hymnwriter. He lived a quiet, service‑oriented life, and most of his writing was personal—letters, poems for friends, and reflections meant to comfort specific people. It’s great to think that such an ordinary person could have such a positive impact on the centuries that followed and around the world.
Here’s the story behind the man and the hymn.
My favourite lines are these:
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
Here are some interesting versions of the hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 