Day by Day

Written by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg in 1865, "Day by Day" is a reminder that God is always with us, especially when we feel farthest from Him. Lina composed this hymn after witnessing the accidental drowning of her father in 1858 when she was just 26 years old. Her father was a minister at the local Lutheran Church, so naturally, Lina turned to God for answers. 

Having led a relatively everyday life, in the Christian sense, Lina relied heavily on texts found in the Bible to process her grief and attempt to move forward. These words compelled her to remember the endless love that our Heavenly Father has for us; she wrote: “ Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, I’ve no cause for worry or for fear”. God knows what will happen in each of our lives and is constantly watching over how we use our time on Earth. Lina knew that God did not abandon her and that He would continue to be her strength as she navigated the loss of her father at a young age. The Bible brought her promises of a Heavenly Father who understands our struggles and tribulations. He does not sit idly by when we struggle.  Knowing that an all-powerful being has our best interests in mind, we can rely on the words that He has left us, so that we may live the most fulfilling life possible. 

Even when writing to process a grief that most of us cannot imagine, Lina did not believe that God was punishing her or her father, or that he was neutral to her suffering. She wrote, “The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on Himself He laid”. God took it upon Himself to keep our best interests in mind, and He does not abandon His children. We are made in the Father’s image, we love and show kindness to each other in ways that remind us of the One who first loved us. He does not falter, even when things here on Earth may feel that way. It is up to us to remember the words that God gave us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)