by Deborah Macomber
Lina Sandell and Oscar Ahnfelt wrote this hymn. Lina Sandell wrote the words for several hymns, while Oscar Ahnfelt composed the music for all of them.
Lina’s full name was Karolina (Caroline) Wilhemina Sandell-Berg. She was born in Sweden on October 3, 1832, and died on July 27, 1903, almost 81 years old in Sweden. When she was twenty-six, she went with her father on a boat trip to Gothenburg. On the way, her father fell overboard and drowned. Lina was greatly affected, and began writing hymns.
Oscar Ahnfelt was born on May 21, 1813, in Sweden, and died on October 22, 1882. The tunes that he composed for her hymns were simple and pleasing to Swedish ears. He sang her hymns all over the country with his homemade ten-string guitar, causing them to become very popular.
Oscar himself supplies an example of putting the words of this hymn to work.
At one time, King Karl XV, king of Sweden, was petitioned to make Ahnfelt quit singing and preaching. The king called Oscar to come and sing for him. Not knowing what to do, he asked Lina to compose a song for him to sing, which she did. Oscar Ahnfelt then appeared before the king and sang these words:
Who is it that knocketh upon your heart’s door in peaceful eve?
Who is it that brings to the wounded and sore the balm that can heal and relieve?
Your heart is still restless, it findeth no peace in earth’s pleasures;
Your soul is still yearning, it seeketh release to rise to the heavenly treasures.
After hearing this, the king grasped Ahnfelt by the hand and said, “You may sing as much as you desire in both my kingdoms.” Oscar Ahnfelt had put these lines to work:
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 is part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Andrew L. Skoog translated this hymn. He was born in Sweden on December 17, 1856, but was moved to St. Paul, Minnesota when he was twelve. He only had a sixth grade education, but edited seven hymnals, and wrote a textbook on theory. He died on October 30, 1934 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Sources:
www.cyberhymnal.org
William J. Reynolds Companion to Baptist Hymnal. (Nashville, TN; Broadman Press, 1976)
