Some of Christianity's most beloved hymns were born not in moments of celebration, but in seasons of heartbreak, loneliness and personal disappointment. Among them is What a Friend We Have in Jesus, a hymn that has comforted millions of people across generations.
Its message is simple yet profound: when human relationships disappoint us and life's burdens become overwhelming, we can turn to Jesus in prayer. Behind these reassuring words lies the deeply moving story of Joseph Medlicott Scriven, a man whose personal tragedies helped shape a legacy of comfort for the world.
Joseph Scriven was born in Ireland in 1819. He received a good education and appeared destined for a promising future. Like many young people, he had dreams of love, marriage and a settled family life. However, circumstances would dramatically alter the course of his life, leaving him to discover the meaning of faith through experiences of profound loss.
Scriven fell in love with a young woman and looked forward to marrying her. Their future together seemed full of promise, but tragedy struck shortly before their wedding. His fiancée died in a drowning accident, leaving him devastated.
The loss was a painful interruption of the life he had imagined. Instead of beginning married life with the woman he loved, Scriven was confronted with grief and the difficult task of rebuilding his future.
For someone whose hopes had been invested in marriage and companionship, such a loss could have produced bitterness or despair. Scriven, however, increasingly devoted himself to Christian service.
He eventually left Ireland for Canada, where he sought to establish a new life and put his religious convictions into practice. He became known for helping people who were poor, sick or struggling, often offering assistance without expecting payment. His compassion reflected a belief that Christian faith should be demonstrated through practical acts of kindness.
Yet moving to another country did not mean that sorrow had disappeared from his life. In Canada, Scriven again experienced the pain of losing a woman he hoped to marry. His second fiancée, Eliza, died following an illness in 1860 before they could establish their life together.
Once again, a deeply personal dream was shattered. The repeated experience of bereavement left him with an intimate understanding of loneliness and disappointment.
How a poem of comfort became a beloved hymn
It was against this background that the words associated with What a Friend We Have in Jesus emerged.
Around 1855, Scriven is believed to have written a poem, often associated with the title *Pray Without Ceasing*, to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland and experiencing difficulties.
The poem was sent to her as an expression of encouragement and faith. Its original purpose was not to achieve fame or secure a place in hymnbooks, but to provide comfort to someone he loved.
The poem was later brought to wider attention and appeared in a hymnal in 1865. It was eventually paired with a melody composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868 and first published in 1870.
It became known as *What a Friend We Have in Jesus*, one of the most widely sung hymns in Christian worship. The words express the importance of prayer, reminding believers that they need not carry their anxieties alone when they can bring their concerns before God.
The hymn's enduring appeal lies in its understanding of human weakness. People often conceal their struggles because they fear being misunderstood, judged or rejected.
Others carry burdens silently because they do not want to trouble their families and friends. Some have experienced betrayal and find it difficult to trust again.
The hymn points towards Jesus as a dependable source of spiritual companionship, inviting believers to approach Him honestly with their fears, disappointments and needs.
Its message also challenges Christians to reconsider how they respond to suffering. If Jesus is presented as a compassionate friend, those who follow Him should seek to reflect that compassion in their relationships.
Prayer should not become an excuse for ignoring people in distress. Instead, faith should inspire believers to visit the sick, support grieving families, assist struggling neighbours and listen patiently to those who need someone to talk to.
Finding faith, compassion and hope through suffering
Scriven's life offers a particularly important lesson because his personal tragedies did not prevent him from serving others. Despite experiencing repeated heartbreak, he became known for helping vulnerable people.
His example reminds us that suffering need not make a person indifferent to the pain of others. Sometimes, those who have experienced deep disappointment become especially sensitive to the needs of people facing similar difficulties.
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to romanticise Scriven's suffering or suggest that every tragedy automatically produces spiritual strength. Grief can be complicated, and people respond to loss in different ways.
Faith does not remove the need to mourn, seek support or take time to recover. Rather, the hymn offers a language of prayer for people who need reassurance that their struggles can be brought before God without shame.
Today, What a Friend We Have in Jesus remains a source of encouragement in churches, homes, hospitals and funeral services.
Its message crosses national, cultural and generational boundaries because loneliness, anxiety and disappointment are universal human experiences.
Whether someone is facing a broken relationship, financial difficulties, illness or bereavement, the hymn offers a reminder that suffering need not be faced in isolation.
Joseph Scriven may never have imagined that a poem written to comfort his mother would eventually touch millions of lives. His legacy demonstrates how a deeply personal expression of faith can become a source of hope for people he would never meet.
Ultimately, the story behind *What a Friend We Have in Jesus* is not simply about a man who suffered romantic loss. It is about someone who sought to transform personal pain into compassion and spiritual encouragement.
His life reminds us that human companionship is precious, but even when our plans collapse and familiar sources of comfort disappear, prayer can remain a meaningful expression of hope.
The hymn continues to ask an important question of every generation: when burdens become too heavy and the future uncertain, where do we turn?
Its answer is an invitation to seek the friendship of Jesus—and to become, in turn, a faithful friend to those who are hurting.
Ashford Kimani is a teacher of English and Literature who writes on education and social affairs. He worships at CITAM Kiambu Road. His articles are inspired by his senior pastor's preaching on the Book of Habakkuk.
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