Today's song is a beloved hymn, written in 1950 by Ira Stanphill, an accomplished musician and traveling preacher. He preached across America and in 40 other countries, and later appeared on Gaither Homecoming videos. Ira wrote over 500 gospel songs, including Mansion Over The Hilltop and We’ll Talk It Over, as well as his auto-biography in 1983 titled This Side of Heaven. Ira wrote I Know Who Holds Tomorrow during a difficult and trying time in his life. While driving, he began to hum and then sing about not knowing what the future held but trusting God would be with him every step of the way. Upon arriving home, he rushed to his office and piano and jotted down the words to what is now a song of trust which has brought comfort to many.
Matthew 6:34a - “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself ...” James 4:13-15 – “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Proverbs 27:1 - “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
“I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day. I don't borrow from the sunshine, for the skies they turn to grey. And I don't worry for the future, for I know what Jesus said. And today I'll walk beside Him, for He’s what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand, but I know Who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand. Every step is getting brighter as the golden stairs I climb, every burden's getting lighter, every cloud is silver-lined. There, the sun is always shining; there, no tear will ever dim the eye at the ending of the rainbow, where the mountains touch the sky. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand, but I know Who holds tomorrow and I know Who holds my hand.”
Ask the God of the universe to hold your hand today! Become a Christ-follower and He will walk beside you and be with you for all of your tomorrows!
Artists: The Whites
Writer: Ira Stanphill
