What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

I was listening to the music of an old hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. The words that resounded in my head were:

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer…Joseph M. Scriven, 1855 copyright status is Public Domain

These words bring me such comfort, particularly at this time when there seems to be so much uncertainty. Our first response, not our second, or our last is to take all of our troubles to the Lord in prayer. God knew all of our troubles, before we knew them. And He is not shaking in His boots as to what the outcome will be, for He knows that too. Our job is only to trust Him to take us through whatever the concerns might be.

I admit that this is not something that mankind adheres to easily. Each of us struggle in our own way to cope with the unfamiliar, the fearful, and that which is challenging. We tend to cling to that which is familiar and safe. Yet, there are really no guarantees that in this life everything will fall according to our expectations. There is however, one guarantee that every blood bought child of God can hold onto:

 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

He is still saying that to us today.

Maria

---