By Joseph Prince
Ever wished for a friend whom you can always confide in, and who never fails to impart peace and strength to you so you can face the issues of life? There’s one friend who does—and He’s none other than our amazing Lord Jesus!
As the words of this beloved hymn go:
“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.”
Do you notice how the hymn’s writer calls praying a privilege? That’s because Jesus is a friendwhom you can have heart-to-heart talks with. And you don’t have to speak in perfect sentences or follow some religious formula.
As the psalmist David once wrote so beautifully, “Hear me as I pray, O LORD….My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming” (Ps. 27:7–8 NLT).
I’ve personally experienced the benefits of having such heart-to-heart talks with the Lord, especially on my evening walks with Him. I can’t explain it but He always adds something to me through our conversations. I find myself more at peace, more conscious of His superabounding supply for all of life’s demands, or that He has imparted strength to me.
I believe the same is just waiting for you. As you pour out your heart to Jesus, He won’t let you leave the same way you came. He’ll give you His strength, infuse you with His peace (see Ps. 29:11 NLT), and so much more.
Why you can tell it to Jesus
You might be thinking, But I’ve sinned and failed so much. How can I stand in the Lord’s presence, much less call Him my friend?
Yes, it’s true that sin once separated us from God. But He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross for all our sins. And Jesus rose again on the third day, proving that we’re now completely forgiven and reconciled to God (see Rom. 4:25, 2 Cor. 5:19).
That’s why He will never leave you nor forsake you today. In fact, He’s telling you, “Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely” (Song of Sol. 2:14 NLT).
Telling it to Him is faith
Another concern I often hear is, But Pastor Prince, according to Mark 11:23, I’m not praying in faith if I simply tell Jesus about my problems!
My friend, although there is definitely a place for Mark 11:23 prayers, don’t all of us have days when we are so discouraged we just have no strength to speak to the mountains in our lives? God understands and He calls it faith when we simply come to Him as we are, in our discouragement and distress, seeking His comfort, strength, and grace.
As the psalmist David wrote, “I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble” (Ps. 142:2). These words were likely written when David was hiding in a cave from Saul, discouraged and fearful. But at the end of the psalm, David tells God, “You are good to me” (Ps. 142:7 NLT).
So like David, will you pour out your heart before the Lord, and allow Him to restore your soul and bring deliverance to your situation?
He’s more than a listening ear
Indeed, there are very tangible benefits of telling it to Jesus. He not only loves you and is your listening ear, but He also has the power to give you success in all things (see 3 John 1:2).
And you can tell Him about anything that’s eating you, whether it’s, “Lord, I’m worried about these symptoms in my body.” Or, “Lord, my marriage is breaking down. I don’t know what to do.” Or even, “I’m just so tired and discouraged, Lord. I don’t feel like reading the Bible or talking to You!” Nothing catches Jesus by surprise. In fact, the more honest you are with Him, the more you’ll sense His comforting nearness and strength, and experience His saving power in the days to come.
So I shan’t keep you anymore, my friend. Go enjoy some alone time with Jesus and let Him know what’s on your heart. Then, “What a friend we have in Jesus” won’t just be lyrics in a hymn, but will become your glorious, life-transforming reality.
© Joseph Prince Ministries 2018
