Take It to the Lord in Prayer: Finding Strength in a Faithful Friend
“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.”
— From the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
This old hymn has a way of finding us in the hardest moments. The words are simple, but they reach into the most complicated parts of our lives. When trials come, when temptation lingers, when the weight of it all feels like too much we, as Christians, have something that we can do. We can bring these concerns to God in prayer.
Prayer isn’t a formula or a performance, it's simply a conversation with a friend. This hymn reminds us that Jesus is not a distant observer but a faithful companion who knows about our weakness and sorrow. When we pray, it's not as if we are bringing new information to God. We're simply handing over to a dear friend what we can't hold on our own.
Sometimes prayer changes our circumstances but more often, it changes us. It softens the edges of fear and roots us again in a hope that's deeper than our present struggles. Prayer connects us to the God who is always present but who we often forget about. Prayer gives us something to do with the troubles of our heart when it feels like we've tried everything else.
So if you’re carrying something heavy today take a few quiet moments to place it before God. You don't need perfect words, just a heart that's willing to trust God with your deepest concerns.
Today’s prayer:
Faithful Friend, you know my sorrows and see my weakness.
Teach me to bring my burdens to you in prayer,
and to trust that your love will hold me fast.
“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.”
— From the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
This old hymn has a way of finding us in the hardest moments. The words are simple, but they reach into the most complicated parts of our lives. When trials come, when temptation lingers, when the weight of it all feels like too much we, as Christians, have something that we can do. We can bring these concerns to God in prayer.
Prayer isn’t a formula or a performance, it's simply a conversation with a friend. This hymn reminds us that Jesus is not a distant observer but a faithful companion who knows about our weakness and sorrow. When we pray, it's not as if we are bringing new information to God. We're simply handing over to a dear friend what we can't hold on our own.
Sometimes prayer changes our circumstances but more often, it changes us. It softens the edges of fear and roots us again in a hope that's deeper than our present struggles. Prayer connects us to the God who is always present but who we often forget about. Prayer gives us something to do with the troubles of our heart when it feels like we've tried everything else.
So if you’re carrying something heavy today take a few quiet moments to place it before God. You don't need perfect words, just a heart that's willing to trust God with your deepest concerns.
Today’s prayer:
Faithful Friend, you know my sorrows and see my weakness.
Teach me to bring my burdens to you in prayer,
and to trust that your love will hold me fast.
Posted in Worship & Prayer
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