King David writes in Psalm 68:19, “Blessed be the Lord. Day by day he bears our burdens. He is the God who The Lord will lead us day by day saves us.” The hymn “Day by Day,” 803 in Christian Worship, encourages us to put our trust in God day by day as he bears our burdens. “Day by Day” is new to us in our new hymnal. It is in the Trust section of the hymnal.
“Day by Day” expresses thanks to God and encourages dependence on the Lord for daily benefits. The text of the hymn was written by Carolina Vilhelmina Sandell Berg, who was born in Smaland, Sweden in 1832. She was the daughter of a Swedish Lutheran minister. As a young child, she was stricken with a paralysis that confined her to bed with little chance of recovery. However, by age twelve she had improved so that she was able to walk. From this experience, she began jotting down verses to express her gratitude to God, and at age sixteen she published her first book of such poems. One of her most famous hymns, "Children of the Heavenly Father," comes from her teenage years and is a testimony to the spiritual upbringing that she received in her home. “Children of the Heavenly Father” is 502 in Christian Worship.
In 1858, at the age of 26, Lina, as she was commonly called, was accompanying her father aboard a ship across Lake Vattern. The ship gave a sudden lurch which caused her father to fall overboard and drown before her eyes. Then in 1860 her mother also died. With memories of her father’s untimely death, “Day by Day” was written in 1865, between the time of her mother’s death and Lina’s marriage in 1867.
Despite her sufferings – or maybe because of them - Carolina authored more than 650 hymns in her lifetime, many of which were brought to America by Swedish immigrants, and she has been called "the Fanny Crosby of Sweden."
Verse one: “Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me, bringing comfort to my anxious soul. Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal. Love divine, beyond all mortal measure, brings to naught the burdens of my quest; Savior, lead me to the home I treasure, where at last I’ll find eternal rest.”
In this first verse, we are told we can trust the Lord’s mercies for our anxious souls. God has promised his people strength to meet their trials in life. We don’t need to be afraid or dismayed if we don’t find rest in this lifetime. The Lord will lead us day by day to find our eternal rest in the life to come.
Verse two: Day by day, I know you will provide me strength to serve and wisdom to obey; I will seek your loving will to guide me o’er the paths I struggle day by day. I will fear no evil of the morrow, I will trust in your enduring grace. Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow till in glory I behold your face.”
In the second verse, we are told we can trust in God’s pledge for protection and providing for our needs. Though our paths are often filled with struggles, we don’t need to fear any evil. Our trust in the enduring grace of our Savior drives away all those fears. We ask the Lord to wipe the tears and sorrow from our face as we behold the divine glory of his face. The Lord will lead us day by day to meet and greet whatever challenges lie on the path before us.
Verse three: “Oh, what joy to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear; oh, what joy to know that you will hear me when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer. Day by day, no matter what betide me, you will hold me ever in your hand. Savior, with your presence here to guide me, I will reach at last the promised land.”
In the third verse, we are told to trust in God’s care and concern because we know he is near. We often hear people tell us, “God won’t give you more than you can bear.” That sounds Christian … but it’s not. God certainly gives you more than you can bear. When you realize your burdens are too great for you to bear alone, he is right there beside you to take those burdens off you and put them on himself. No matter what betides you, the Lord is beside you. Day by day, trust that the Lord is holding your hand, leading you to the promised land.
The text of this hymn is paired with a beautiful melody. It will quickly become a favorite. Express the deep and peaceful trust you have in the Lord as you pray for his help, “Day by Day.”