Thursday Hymn Reflection: “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”

[Every Thursday, we “reflect” on a hymn suggested by our readers. To add your favorites to our list, leave a comment with no more than 3 suggestions, and we’ll reflect on it in the future!]

In our uncertain times, this song seems to be regaining some level of usage. A great song of faith, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” helps us express something that only Christians can have in dark and difficult times.

Written by Ira Stanphill, the song shares statements of trust in unsettled times. The song focuses on two reasons why Christians can have strong faith in times that are difficult.

First, the song suggests that we are looking forward to heaven. “There the sun is always shining; there no tear will dim the eye.” Christians look constantly toward the place that is better, the place where God dwells. Revelation describes it as the place where “the former things have passed away.” We know that suffering will be a part of our life here, but that, if we remain faithful, there will be no suffering in heaven. That should help strengthen our faith.

More than that, though, the song speaks of our faith in difficult times because we know that God knows the future and is always with us. As Jesus ended the Great Commission, He stated, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We are told in Scripture that God will never leave nor forsake us. It is an amazing promise that the Creator of the universe “is not far from any one of us.”

Christians have a great ability to cope with trials and struggles because the One who created us also stands with us and walks with us. Above that, He (as the song says) “knows what it ahead.” The faithful can place their trust in Him because He is able to see what lies down the road. We may not know where this struggle will lead, but He does. That being the case, the song can state, “Every step is getting brighter.” Even in difficulty, the Christian is able to see the silver lining!

My favorite part of the song is the ending of the final verse, because it incorporates two great Biblical word pictures. The song states that we can be strong because “His presence goes before me, and I’m covered with His blood.” First John chapter 1 teaches us that the blood of Jesus will continually cleanse us from sin if we walk in the light. And I like the picture of God’s presence not going with us, but before us. It reminds me of the pillar of cloud and of fire in the Old Testament. It went ahead of God’s people, leading them through the wilderness. While God doesn’t do that in a miraculous way today, His Word guides every step we take, if we will let it.

Here are the lyrics of this great hymn:

I don’t know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day;

I don’t borrow from its sunshine,

For its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future,

For I know what Jesus said;

And today I’ll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Ev’ry step is getting brighter,

As the golden stairs I climb;

Ev’ry burden’s getting lighter,

Ev’ry cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow,

Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don’t know about tomorrow,

It may bring me poverty;

But the One who feeds the sparrow,

Is the One who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion

May be through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me,

And I’m covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow,

I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.

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What are your reflections on this hymn, especially in the times in which we find ourselves?