Day By Day

Day By Day

By: Karolina Sandell-Berg 

Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear.  

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, gives unto each day what He deems best;

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and rest. 

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour,

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure, is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As your days, your strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He hath made. 

Help me then in ev'ry tribulation, so to trust your promises, O Lord;

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation, offered me within your holy Word. 

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take, as from a Father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land. 

This a a Scandinavian hymn written by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, who is also known as the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden." Karolina was born in Frvderyd on October 3, 1832. Her father, Jonas Sandell, was a pastor of the village's Lutheran church. Though frail in body, Lina had a strong spirit, and was raised with artistic, literary, and religious influences in her home life. Sadly, tragedy struck when she was twenty-six; it profoundly affected the course of her life. Lina and her father were enjoying a boat trip on the east coast of Sweden near Gothenburg when the ship suddenly lurched. Tragically, before her very eyes, Karolina's father pitched overboard and drowned. After returning home alone, Karolina began processing her grief through the Scriptures and expressing her faith in poetry. She had written hymns before, but now she poured out her broken heart in an endless stream of beautiful songs. Her hymns mightily influenced the revival that swept across Scandanavia after 1850. They became even more popular because of the simple, beautiful melodies written for them, especially those written by Oscar Ahrnfelt. He played his guitar and sang her hymns throughout Scandanavia. Karolina once said that Ahrnfelt sang her songs "into the hearts of the people." The world-famous vocalist, Jenny Lind, visited factories and sang Lina's beautiful hymns. Fourteen poems were published that tragic year of 1858, one of which is sung even to this day: 

Children of the heavenly Father safely in His bosom gather;

Nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e'er was given.

Several years later, her best-known hymn, "Day By Day," was published. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Karolina Sandell-Berg's voice spoke more than 650 hymns from a heart filled abundantly with love for her Saviour. In Day By Day, Lina spoke from personal experience about the daily strength the Lord provides for His struggling children. 

Day by day, and with each passing moment, strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. 

If you need strength for a particular trial, take this grand old hymn into the day with you, and claim some of the wonderful promises God has given: 

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. ~ Exodus 15:2

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. ~ Nehemiah 8:10 (emphasis mine)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ~ Psalm 46:1

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 
~ Isaiah 40:31

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9