What a Friend we have in Jesus
A few months ago I met my husband on one of our dates with a long list of what was overwhelming me at the moment. He looked at the list and said, “Well, you certainly have good reason to be overwhelmed!”
We both learned a long time ago that when I bring him something like this, I’m not looking for him to “fix” everything, but just to know what’s going on for me and to hug me and commiserate with me a little. That’s exactly what he did, and just having him acknowledge that I had a lot going on helped a lot. After some pity and hugging, he pointed out that some things on my list were not mine to worry about so I might want to just give them to the Lord – which I eventually was able to do.
Today I looked back at that list and was amazed at how many of the things on it had been resolved and accomplished. There were two or three things that are still in process, but they are the things that are really the Lord’s responsibility and I was able to leave them with Him.
Isn’t it funny how the perspective of a couple of months can make so much difference?
I had a similar experience with the wall in our living room. Now I know that sounds funny, but it’s a big wall – two stories high and painted off-white. It looks like a huge blank canvas or a blank page to a writer with writer’s block. I’ve been looking at it for 3 years, since we moved in here, and froze every time I even began to think about how I would decorate it. Since we’ve been using that room for storage (see my previous post on living room furniture) it wasn’t a problem, until we finally purchased furniture. Now I simply had to do something with that wall!
Than one day at a furniture store I mentioned it to the person who was showing us around. He said, “Oh that’s not a problem. You simply hang two to four things at eye level and it will draw everyone’s attention to the lower portion of the wall and give it a cozy feeling.” What a simple solution! And I had spent hours and hours thinking and worrying, yes, worrying about it.
Situations like these bring me back to the need to bring everything to the Lord in prayer, as the old hymn says:
What a Friend we have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
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.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Finding Joy in the Journey, Phyllis
Phyllis Sather
Proclaiming God’s Faithfulness at:
© 2008 Phyllis Sather
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Contact me at: Phyllis@Phyllis-Sather.com
