HYMN OF THE MONTH:
Day by Day
by Carolina Sandell Berg (1832-1903)
Lina Sandell Berg grew up in Sweden during a time of nationwide revival. Her health was frail, often preventing her from playing outdoors and confining her indoors instead. She learned to play quietly for hours at a time while sitting in her father’s study as he prepared sermons for the church he pastored.
Eventually, Lina recovered—one account describing this as a sudden healing—and she responded with deep gratitude for this memorable answer to prayer.
As her faith grew, she began writing hymns that expressed her trust in Jesus and His care for her life.
Over time, Lina became a prolific hymn writer, composing hundreds of hymns that were loved by believers throughout Sweden during a season when God was drawing many hearts to Himself. Because she was such a prolific hymn writer, Lina is often compared to Fanny Crosby, who wrote hundreds of hymns in America.
While all of Lina’s hymns reflect God’s work in her life, one hymn in particular was shaped by deep personal loss. Lina endured a devastating tragedy when she witnessed her father fall overboard and drown while they were crossing Sweden’s Lake Vättern. God used this sorrow to further deepen her faith and dependence on Him.
Out of that season came the hymn “Day by Day”—a lasting reminder that God gives strength to meet our trials, one day and even one hour at a time.
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Read & Relate
Day by Day
By Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903
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, it's part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Lamentations 3:22-23; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 103:8; Matthew 6:54
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.
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 made.
Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23:6; Isaiah 9:6; 1 Peter 5:7; Deuteronomy 33:25
Help me then in every 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.
John 16:33; Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:50; Proverbs 3:5-6; Revelation 21:3-4
