What A Friend We Have

Do you ever have out-of-the blue thoughts reminding you of childhood?

While fixing breakfast, I had the toaster on a too-high setting, resulting in burned toast. The smoky odor brought me immediately back to childhood campouts during summer vacations with friends and families. My dad often made toast using an old Coleman grill which invariably caused the bread to be singed and blackened, but to me it still tasted good!

I loved camping with my family- fishing, sleeping in tents, picnics. So. Much. Fun. The decals we carefully picked out as we went from state to state got plastered on the rear windows of our station wagon, and still remain vivid in my mind. 

An additional scent that sets me back in time happens each time I eat an orange. I cannot peel one without thinking of early Christmas mornings growing up in Iowa. My brother and I would camp-out in a makeshift card table/blanket “tent” hoping to stay awake to get a glimpse of Santa. Of course, that never happened, but we did wake up to stockings with treats, always including oranges (which we inhaled and ate as we enjoyed finding and receiving our other Christmas goodies). 

Although burnt toast and oranges bring back pleasant memories, sometimes other things trigger unpleasant things. Often a word, event, something we see, hear, smell or touch-it could be anything- brings us to places we wish we could forget. 

Sometimes triggers can cause stress, anxiety or depression. When it happens to me, I’m reminded of an old hymn that was my grandma’s favorite, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

Check out the lyrics- they’re worth a read.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, 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 thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt 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.

Although we may experience memories or triggers causing both positive and negative reactions, isn’t it a comfort to know we have a loving Heavenly Father who is ready and waiting for us to come to Him with our cares and concerns?

1 Peter 5:7 NIV says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Friend, God’s Word is true!  No matter what sins, griefs, or pains we bear, we can go directly to Jesus with them and he bears them for us!  

Don’t forfeit one more minute of peace- He’s faithful. He knows every weakness. Be encouraged by his endless love and concern. Claim this verse as your truth, today!