“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” was written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960), a Kentucky-born Methodist minister, who wrote it as a poem reflecting on God’s daily faithfulness throughout his life. Inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23, it was set to music by William M. Runyan (1870-1957) and gained popularity through the Moody Bible Institute and Billy Graham crusades. Thomas Chisholm wrote over 1,200 poems, but this particular hymn became his most enduring legacy, focusing on the theme that God’s compassions are new every morning.

Let’s look at Lamentations 3:22-23 in several different versions of the Bible.

● Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. New International Version (NIV)

● Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. New King James Version (NKJV)

● God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. The Message (MSG)

Thomas’ life was not one of ease. He experienced health problems and financial struggles. Thomas wrote out of experience of need. He needed God’s unfailing mercy daily within his life. Now, let’s look at the words to “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and reflect on the truth of the inspiring scripture. If this were the only scripture and hymn that we ever knew, the profoundness of its message could sustain us for a lifetime.

May we each realize the LOVING KINDNESS of God our Father. His FAITHFULNESS is what sustains us each and every day. May we not become immune to the wooing strains of God’s mercies that waft through the chords of this song with the intention of capturing our heart and producing a return from us of LOVE and GRATEFULNESS to the GREAT I AM.

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I find it fascinating to look into the geopolitical and world history during the time hymns were written. You can often find the threads of the spiritual and physical struggle that individuals were facing. The hymns became the authors’ prayers and cries to God. “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” is no different.

Can you imagine being born in the same year that World War 1 erupted? Even though Stanphill was a baby, the trauma of his mother, father, family, and community created an atmosphere that influenced his upbringing. This war brought much uncertainty and fear to the entire globe. Next, when Stanphill was approximately 15, the Great U.S. Depression unfolded and lasted for almost ten years until World War 2 broke the U.S. Depression, but thrust the U.S. into another world conflict after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

It is safe to say that Stanphill’s family was full of faith and a devotion to God. Stanphill gave his life to the Lord at age 12. He was called to preach at age 22 after attending Junior College. Stanphill not only preached, but he loved music and composed over 500 gospel songs. Stanphill by age 10 was an avid musician and was composing and performing his own music by age 17.

With that history in mind, now let’s turn to the actual words of the hymn. Stanphill was writing from emotion and desperation of his day. In comparison, it may be very similar, but different than we are currently facing. Stanphill’s time as our time is filled with unrest, uncertainty, and a desire for God’s sustaining hand and direction.

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” was published in 1950, five years after the end of World War 2.

Let these words become your and my prayer and confidence as the world around us takes the unknown turns we cannot foresee. Even though we may not know what will happen later today, tomorrow, or in the future; we can know who holds our hand.

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On Christmas Day, 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard the church bells ringing and wrote these words:

But it was not a season of Christmas peace for Longfellow. His wife had recently died from severe burns, civil war was ravaging the nation, and earlier in December, army surgeons had informed Longfellow that his oldest son had been severely injured in battle and might possibly be paralyzed.

He heard the bells chiming “peace,” but all around him, he saw despair and violence. He had lost two wives, been himself injured in the fire that had killed his second wife, his son was hurt, his children left motherless, men were enslaving other men, and brothers were killing brothers.

But as he listened to the bells longer, he was able to pen words that still bring Christmas hope to those longing for God’s peace in difficult times:

Longfellow knew that God was on His throne. Even though he couldn’t see it, Longfellow knew that God was still working and that ultimately, He would win over all the hate, injustice, and evil of the world. But what is sad is that Longfellow most likely did not really know the God of peace who sent His Son for us to conquer the “Wrong” and bring us eternal peace.

Henry Longfellow was curious about Jesus Christ, but he lived and died a member of the Unitarian Church. Unitarians believe that Jesus was not the Son of God but only a good man and that there was no need for Jesus to sacrificially die for us, and there is no eternal damnation.

Like Longfellow, many people today hear songs of peace while carrying private grief, loss, or discouragement. And like him, they know about God. Over half of Americans have no doubt that He exists, and others are open to it. They overwhelmingly believe that Jesus existed, and most know what He did for us; but very few really know God. They have not chosen to believe they are sinners in need of a Savior or allowed Him to be the Lord of their lives. They can sing (and even write) Christmas carols, but they do not yet know the Savior or the peace that they sing about.

Longfellow believed God was not dead; how much more can we who truly know God rest in the promise that God’s peace is real and eternal. We can be confident in the hope of Christ. One day soon the Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on earth, goodwill to men.

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The Story Behind “Why God”

“God actually taught me something through my 3-year-old little boy, who’s in the “why, Daddy?” stage. He asks me all these questions about anything and everything and he doesn’t always get my answers, but what he does get is that he can sit in his daddy’s lap and ask me anything and I want every single question and I’ll love him no matter what. I believe that asking “why, God?” doesn’t make us a bad Christian. Maybe, it just makes us a kid who needs their Dad, and that’s ok. So I pray this song gives you permission to feel that; to bring those questions that you’ve been scared to ask to the God who’s not scared of anything.”
~Austin French

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The Healing God Promises

Have you had something hard happen to you recently? Have you lost a loved one, lost a job, got hurt or sick or left? Did you get mad at God and decide not to talk to Him anymore? It  might surprise you to know that He’d rather you talk to Him, even if you’re mad. He can take it. He knows how hard life is for us, how much it hurts- and the beautiful thing is He cares so much. Let these Scriptures comfort and strengthen you in whatever you’re walking through.

“Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering.”

Isaiah 49.13 NLT

“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

Psalms 103.13-14 NLT

“This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4.15-16 NLT

Maybe the healing God promises us comes from spending time with Him and learning who He is, instead of from getting all the answers we think we need. Two common themes running through the Bible are humility and trust. Can you see how both are necessary when we’re going through something hard or have had something painful happen to us? We have to get to a place of humility- of letting go of the need to control our own lives. If we can remember that God sees the whole picture, knows what’s best for us, and loves us enough to continue making us into the people we’re meant to be, we can trust Him through everything that happens in our lives. Like a child in the lap of a good father, the BEST Father, we can rest knowing that He’s got us and He won’t ever let us go. 

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