Day by Day

“Songs My Father Sang”

Day by Day

Text: Carolina Sandell Berg (1832-1903)
Music: Osscar Ahnfelt

1. 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.

2. 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 Counsellor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

3. 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.

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 with Christ the Lord I stand.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Carolina, known as Lina to her friends, was one of Scandinavia’s best-know hymn writers, has been called the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden.”

This song first published in 1886 in her Korsblomman, which in English means “Bible Calendar.”

“Naturally, a calendar speaks of the passing of time. In this Bible Calendar, Lina included an allegory, a story about an old wall clock that had suddenly stopped working. In the story, the clock's dial decided to investigate why the mechanism had failed. Soon it was clear that the pendulum was at fault. In fact, the pendulum had gone on strike!

A discussion ensued between the dial and the pendulum. “How would you feel if you had to swing back and forth 86,400 times a day?” the pendulum complained.

“Try swinging only six times,” the dial said. The pendulum agreed, and admitted that six swings were not burdensome. But then he said, “It's not the six times or sixty, it's the thought of six million swings that disturbs me!”

The dial responded, “My dear pendulum, please bear this in mind. While in a single moment you can think of the millions of swings you must make in a lifetime, only one at a time will ever be required of you. And no matter how often you must make that movement, you will always be given a moment for each one.”

The pendulum then agreed that he had been foolish in going on strike. He resumed his work, and the clock once again could tell the time.

In her calendar, Lina Sandell commented this way. She said that it’s foolish to put future burdens upon the present moment. God's people are given only one day at a time, and for each day they receive new grace, new strength, and new help. She quoted Deuteronomy 33:25: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” The text of this song of comfort and assurance followed. (http://www.moodychurch.org/radio/transcripts/storiesofbelovedhymns.html)

Several other verses to consider:

Deuteronomy 33:25 “…as thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”