“Day By Day” - Carolina Sandell Berg

1832–1903

You never know what the day is going to bring, do you? Your to-do list can be neatly organized on your smartphone, but life’s unexpected events might make a mockery of your list. Some days go as planned, some are better than planned, and some days . . . well, they just blow up.

That reality’s not unique to this generation. Carolina “Lina” Sandell Berg, a Swedish hymn writer in the 1800s, had her share of unexpected days. She had no to-do list on a smartphone, but she probably woke each day with things she wished to accomplish. Sometimes she got them done. Sometimes the unexpected occurred.

As a child, she suffered from a mysterious paralysis that doctors expected to be permanent. One morning while her parents were at church, the paralysis miraculously disappeared. In her twenties, Lina was traveling by boat with her father. The boat pitched, and her father fell overboard. No one was able to save him. Lina watched helplessly as her father drowned.

Like most people, Lina Berg had some sensational days, some traumatic days, and many that were just regular days. No matter what the day brought, Lina looked to God for her strength. The evidence is in the 650 hymns she wrote, including “Day by Day and with Each Passing Moment,” which is still popular.

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.

In her lyrics, Lina models for us a great sense of balance:

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.

Life, she knows, is full of both pain and pleasure, and the Lord is there through all of it, comforting us, strengthening us, teaching us lessons, surprising us. In all days—good, bad, and ordinary—we can trust that God knows best.

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:23