This morning, during my quiet prayer time, I came across a hymn that spoke directly to a deep place in my soul. “Day by Day” by Karoline Sandell-Berg is more than just a beautiful piece of music—it is a profound reminder of how God’s love sustains us, even when life feels confusing, lonely, or uncertain.
In a moment of reflection, as I pondered the questions I often carry—Why am I alone? Why don’t I have a partner or husband? Where do I fit in this wide world?—this hymn gently answered.
A Hymn Born from Grief
Karoline Sandell-Berg, a Swedish hymnwriter, experienced great sorrow early in life. At just 26 years old, she watched her beloved father drown during a boat trip. Out of this tragedy came one of the most tender hymns ever written—a song of trust, surrender, and quiet faith.
“Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here…”
These opening lines are not poetic escape—they are a declaration of faith. Not in our own strength, but in the strength God gives each day—just enough for what we need.
The Answer Hidden in the Words
As I sat with the hymn, I heard a truth that I needed:
God does not promise all the answers at once. He promises His presence day by day. When I long for love, companionship, or a clearer sense of purpose, I am reminded that what God gives is not random. It is what Karoline calls:
“The Father’s wise bestowment.”
I may not understand why I walk this journey alone, but I am not unloved. I am not unseen. What I experience is not absence—it is invitation. An invitation to discover that even in solitude, I am never without God.
Loneliness, Held in Love
“He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best…”
There are days when the loneliness is heavy. Days when silence echoes too loudly. But this hymn does not deny that weight—it holds it tenderly. And then it offers hope.
This hope is not that things will suddenly change, but that each day will come with enough grace to carry us through. That the God whose heart is kind beyond all measure will not fail to provide what is needed—whether comfort, strength, or the faith to keep walking.
A Refrain for the Soul
“Day by Day” reminds me that I am not forgotten. Even without a partner, I belong—to God, to the body of Christ, and to myself. My story is not on hold. It is unfolding under the care of a loving God.
“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.”
These words have become my prayer.
Final Thoughts
This hymn is a spiritual roadmap for those of us traveling unfamiliar roads. It reminds us to trust in divine timing, to rest in the daily provision of God, and to believe that love is always present—even if it does not arrive in the ways we imagined.
So today, I choose to live day by day.
I choose to trust.
I choose to believe that I am held.
And for today, that is enough.
The Curious Pilgrims 