The hymn was written by Joseph Scriven, born in Ireland in 1819. He came from a respected family, had a fine education, and seemed destined for a successful and comfortable future. But just before his planned wedding, tragedy struck. His fiancée drowned in an accident the evening before their wedding day. Scriven watched the love of his life slip away, and the event changed the entire direction of his life.

Grief drove him to seek a new start, and he eventually moved to Canada. Far from home and carrying a broken heart, he began to live with a simple purpose: to serve others and live out the teachings of Christ as sincerely as possible. He became known for his quiet humility and his habit of giving away his possessions to anyone in need. Many called him a gentle Christian pilgrim, walking from home to home with a heart ready to help.

Years later, love found him again, and he became engaged a second time. Yet tragedy returned. His new fiancée grew severely ill and soon passed away. Scriven once more faced heartbreaking loss, and once more he turned to Christ as his only refuge and strength.

The Birth of the Hymn

The words of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” were never meant to become famous. Scriven originally wrote the poem in 1855 for a single reason: to comfort his sick mother back in Ireland. She was going through a time of sorrow, and he could not be there to help her in person. So he sent her a poem that described the greatest truth he knew, the truth that had kept him standing through every storm. He reminded her that she had a Friend in Jesus, a Friend who carries every burden and hears every cry of the heart.

The poem began with the now famous invitation:

“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.”

Scriven wanted his mother to know that no one cares for the believer like Christ does. There is no wound too deep, no trial too heavy, and no sorrow too painful for the Savior who walks with His people.

For years, Scriven never claimed credit for the poem. He gave away most of his writings freely and did not seek recognition. When asked later about the hymn, he simply said, “The Lord and I wrote it together.” This reveals the heart behind the song, a heart shaped by prayer, humility, and trust in the Lord.

Music and the Spreading of the Hymn

The poem was discovered by others and eventually set to music by Charles Converse in 1868. Once the melody was attached, the hymn began to spread quickly through churches, prayer meetings, revivals, and even across continents. People from every background connected with its message of comfort and companionship in Christ.

The hymn became especially meaningful during times of war, sickness, and personal grief. Soldiers carried it into battlefields. Families sang it at funerals. Churches used it in revival meetings. Its power lies in its simplicity. It speaks directly to the soul, reminding the believer that prayer is a privilege and that Christ is a true and faithful Friend.

A Message Shaped by Suffering

The meaning of the hymn becomes clearer when we consider the path Scriven walked. He had experienced more grief than most people ever will, yet his response was not bitterness. Instead, he turned to prayer, service, and trust in Christ.

Lines like these carry that weight:

“O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear.”
“All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Scriven had learned that prayer is not a last resort. It is the Christian’s lifeline. He warns us that many sorrows in life grow heavier simply because we do not bring them to God. This is why the hymn has become a treasure for believers who struggle with worry, fear, and discouragement.

Another line says:

“Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?”

Scriven had lost earthly friends and loved ones, but he discovered that Jesus remained closer than any human companion. Hebrews 13:5 says that Christ will never leave nor forsake His people. This truth forms the heartbeat of the hymn.

The Legacy of the Hymn

Scriven died in 1886 in Ontario, living the same humble Christian life he always had. He never saw the worldwide impact of his hymn. Yet God used his quiet faithfulness to bless millions.

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” remains one of the most comforting hymns ever written because it reflects real life. It acknowledges that Christians face trials, temptations, heartbreaks, and fears. At the same time, it lifts the believer’s eyes to the Friend who is stronger than every storm.

The hymn speaks three timeless truths to our generation:

1. Jesus is the believer’s truest Friend.

He cares for every pain and carries every burden.

2. Prayer is a powerful privilege.

We waste peace when we refuse to bring our troubles to God.

3. No trial is too heavy for Christ.

He walks with His children through every valley and every sorrow.

The story of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” reminds us that God can turn our deepest grief into blessings for others. Joseph Scriven suffered greatly, yet from his suffering came a hymn that still comforts hearts today.

Its message is simple and true. We are never alone, because Jesus is not only our Savior, He is our Friend. He listens, He cares, and He invites us to bring everything to Him in prayer.