The BYU Women’s Chorus performs a breathtaking rendition of the classic Christian hymn ‘What A Friend We Have in Jesus.’
These young women are part of a premier university choir at Brigham Young University in Utah.
In this performance, they dressed in simple black outfits and sang with such sweet harmony.
When I watched them sing, tears came to my eyes. The way their pure voices blended together made my heart feel so light. You could tell every single student felt the words deep in her soul.
The story behind this hymn broke my heart when I first learned it. Joseph Scriven wrote the original words back in 1855.
Joseph suffered terrible heartbreak in his life. His first bride drowned the night before their wedding day in Ireland. He later moved to Canada hoping to rebuild his life, but his second fiancée tragically passed away from illness right before they could marry.
Even through all that sorrow, Joseph dedicated his life to helping needy neighbors and sharing God’s love. When he heard his dear mother back in Ireland was very ill, he could not afford the boat ride home. So he sat down and wrote her a comforting poem titled “Pray Without Ceasing” to remind her to carry every care to the Lord in prayer.
He never planned for anyone else to read it. Years later, a neighbor found the poem scribbled on paper by his bedside while caring for him. In 1868, composer Charles Crozat Converse added the gentle melody we all know so well today.
When we listen to these lovely young women sing those beautiful words, we remember that we never have to carry our burdens alone. Jesus is always right beside us to listen as a friend, to love as a father, and to give us strength to overcome whatever comes our way.
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” — Psalm 55:22
WATCH: BYU Women’s Chorus Sings ‘What A Friend We Have in Jesus’
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