What a Friend We Have in Jesus: The story behind the hymn
▶️ Don't miss this Song of the Day ◀️
I was baptized when I was 52 years old, 8 years ago. I was self-centered, ambitious and “successful” in education (graduated from a top university in China and later got M.A. degree in the U.S. I was also “successful” in business for 16 years. But, one day in human’s end, I came to believe in the Lord. Among all the smart choices in my life, to believe in Jesus is the only beginning of wisdom. God did answer my prayers!
I do not know how I got here but am I ever glad I did. I feel his pain. 25 years ago I buried my son. I carried that lambskin casket to his grave and when I put it down, when I laid my son to rest I said God you have to take him because I cannot give him up. As audible as any word to my ear had ever been I heard the words,” he is safer then you could have ever kept him”. They were not just words they came with a comfort I had never known. Yes, What a Fiend We Have in Jesus!
When I got saved, I was at my wits end. I needed salvation, and everything it had to offer especially, PEACE. I had NONE from morning to night. Depression and torment was my daily CONDITION, to look forward to. I was AFRAID and lonely all the time. It got to the point, where I couldn’t sleep, or eat, and then came Jesus. He came to see about me unvited! He came to see about me! I remember waking up out of my sleep singing, What a friend we have in Jesus. I am so grateful to God that, when I didn’t know how to officiate for myself, He had mercy on me and sent His Son! I can never forget the kindness He extended to me, in one if the worst times of my life. He’s sooo sweet. He’s so tender hearted and caring. ABOVE ALL TRY JESUS! HE WON’T LET YOU DOWN, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM.
Dear brethren in Christ please pray for my family. In life there’s up and down and we are having a hard time in the family . Through Christ we can over all those difficulties. This song gives me once again strength.
I know this. Truly enjoyed it. When I was teetering on the edge, God came. I was so alone. 2 surgeries, 1 bout radiation treatment, year later divorced. 3 months later father died, 11 months later mother died, 20 months later brother died, was having blackouts and unemployed. But as bad as it sounds, God was there and took me thru it. After mother died, 14 months later weed eating in yard, talking to God, I received the joy of the Lord. I mean make you smile everyday and peace like I had never known. I so glad I received it. I now look at Christians wondering why they don’t smile. We have something so wonderful that smiling can’t be helped.
Jesus has been my friend now for 52 years. Although I’ve strayed in the past, and followed after other things, serving myself, I found Him to be as close as a silent prayer. I find my walk with Him gets sweeter as time passes.
I want to bear testimony that I know God hears and answers our prayers. He knows and loves each of us personally. There is a purpose to all things, even heartbreaking sorrow. Perhaps we have these challenges so we can become the people we need to be in order to reach our full potential.
