The story behind the hymn 'what a friend we have in Jesus'
In another era, there lived a man in Ireland who had fallen in love with the girl of his dreams. Just moments before they were to connect to marry the next day, she was tossed from her horse and drowned just moments he would happen to see her lifeless body in the stream when he was filled with unspeakable grief.
Not long after, Joseph decided to travel to Ontario to begin a new life where he became a man known for good deeds. Some wanted to hire him to perform chores for them, but Joseph refused to accept money- instead, performing those deeds for those in need. As time went on, he met a girl and once again fell in love with her and they were to be married until tragedy struck a 2nd time when she came down with pneumonia.
Joseph wrote a poem back home that spoke of his unimaginable grief and his reliance on the Lord our God to get through the pain.
This poem became known as the famous hymn, 'What a friend we have in Jesus.'
Not long after, Joseph decided to travel to Ontario to begin a new life where he became a man known for good deeds. Some wanted to hire him to perform chores for them, but Joseph refused to accept money- instead, performing those deeds for those in need. As time went on, he met a girl and once again fell in love with her and they were to be married until tragedy struck a 2nd time when she came down with pneumonia.
Joseph wrote a poem back home that spoke of his unimaginable grief and his reliance on the Lord our God to get through the pain.
This poem became known as the famous hymn, 'What a friend we have in Jesus.'
One of the major points that GriefShare tries to get across, is the importance of drawing close to God in the face of tragedy and loss of our lives.
Just as God inspired Joseph to write this poem which later became a hymn that is sung in churches across the world, God will take the pain in your own lives and make it into something beautiful that helps others.
So when pain enters our lives, that isn't the time to run from God. It isn't the time to use alcohol or drugs to sedate that pain. No, it is a time for us to run to God to lean on him and trust that He knows what to do with our pain. For in due time, your life will become a beautiful tapestry that will inspire others to turn to God.
The next time I sing this song, I will sing it with more passion in my voice because I know the story behind the song.
Just as God inspired Joseph to write this poem which later became a hymn that is sung in churches across the world, God will take the pain in your own lives and make it into something beautiful that helps others.
So when pain enters our lives, that isn't the time to run from God. It isn't the time to use alcohol or drugs to sedate that pain. No, it is a time for us to run to God to lean on him and trust that He knows what to do with our pain. For in due time, your life will become a beautiful tapestry that will inspire others to turn to God.
The next time I sing this song, I will sing it with more passion in my voice because I know the story behind the song.
No comments:
Post a Comment