Lina Sandell

Today I wish to introduce you to a prolific hymn writer named Lina Sandell (full name: Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg).

Personal/Family Details

Lina was a Swedish poet and author of gospel hymns.She was the daughter of a Lutheran minister and grew up in the rectory at Fröderyd parish in the Diocese of Växjöin Småland, Sweden. Lina greatly loved and admired her father. Since she was a frail youngster, she generally preferred to be with him in his study rather than with comrades outdoors.

Her Miraculous Healing

When Lina was just 12 years of age, she had an experience that greatly shaped her entire life. At an early age she had been stricken with a partial paralysis that confined her to bed much of the time. Though the physicians considered her chance for a complete recovery hopeless, her parents always believed that God would in time make her well again. One Sunday morning, while her parents were in church, Lina began reading the Bible and praying earnestly. When her parents returned, they were amazed to find her dressed and walking freely. After this experience of physical healing, Lina began to write verses expressing her gratitude and love for God and published her first book of spiritual poetry when she was 16.

Her Response to a Personal Tragedy

At the age of 26 she accompanied her father, Jonas Sandell, on a boat trip across Lake Vättern, during which he fell overboard and drowned in her presence. Although Lina had written many hymn texts prior to this tragic experience, now more than ever poetic thoughts began to flow from her broken heart. Born out of this tragic experience of seeing her father drown, in 1865 she penned the much-loved hymn (my personal favourite) “Blott en dag” (English: “Day by Day”)

Her Hymns

All of her hymns reflect a tender, childlike trust in her Savior and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life. She went on to write over 600 hymns in her native language (Swedish) throughout her life and died at the age of 70.

“Blott en dag”(Day by Day)

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.
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.

Ev’ry day the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in eve’ry tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land