The words of songs have a way of carrying us across time and space, offering comfort, clarity, and hope. Songs are more than just music and words; they can be testimonies of faith, resilience, and God’s presence in our lives. Often, songs are born out of a difficult season of life. The hymn Day by Day by Lina (Caroline) Sandell Berg is one of those treasures. Born out of personal sorrow and deep faith, her words remind us that even in our darkest seasons, God’s strength is near and His mercy is new for each moment.
Born Caroline Lina (pronounced Lie-nah) Wilhelmina Sandell in 1832 in Fröderyd, a small Swedish village. She grew up in a religious family, and her father was a Lutheran pastor. Her deep faith was rooted in her upbringing and would grow throughout her life.
Early in her life, she suffered from a severe illness that left her weak and bedridden for a period of time. During this time, her father was instrumental in encouraging her in her walk with God. As her faith grew, she found solace in writing poems and hymns.
One of the most pivotal moments of her life came when she was traveling by boat with her father. In a tragic accident, her father fell overboard and drowned in front of her eyes. Caroline lost someone very close to her, a guiding light in her walk with God. This event marked her life, yet through her grief, her faith deepened and blossomed into the words we see in the hymn Day by Day.
As believers, we sometimes want to always rush to the future. Be done with today. If you have experienced any trials or challenges, it can take a lot just to get through the day. The hymn Day by Day expresses a confidence that, day by day, God supplies the strength we need to face whatever comes. It is trusting in God’s provision, weighed down by a life marked by both suffering and faith.
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.
Every 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 Power.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Caroline Sandell Berg
This hymn is a powerful reminder that we don’t have to face every difficulty in life all at once. We can trust that God gives us the strength we need for today, for this moment. It echoes Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
We have and will face challenging times in our lives. If you have never heard this hymn, Day by Day, I pray that Caroline Sandell Berg’s words resonate with you and bring you comfort on your own journey.
May we, like her, find strength to meet our trials and the peace that comes from trusting in God’s constant care. We can have the full assurance that we can place our trust in God, taking life one day at a time.
References
Hymnary.org
101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck (1982)
