I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
November 4th, 2023I am reluctant to tackle this topic tonight as Im feeling torn between what I feel and what is happening in this world of ours.
Yes this world is in big trouble.
If you have been following what’s happening in the Middle East and Ukraine its not surprising you feel troubled.
I know its hard to get your head around what’s happening and I don’t pretend to know how it’s all going to end?
A few years ago I visited Israel and my heart reached out to the Jewish people, as it did to the Christian Palestinians.
To see what is happening tonight in Gaza & Israel is hard indeed to process!
Those of us who live in the West may feel it won’t happen to us.
We go about our lives and form our opinions of who is right and who is wrong.
Naturally I fall back on what I believe the Bible teaches and I try to recall what I have historically preached as a pentecostal pastor.
When I was young Assemblies of God missionary & preacher I thought I had my theology sorted, but now I notice that my eschatology is being brought into question.
I do not in this post plan to defend my position but simply ask that in the forming of your opinion, you allow the spirit of grace to balance your views.
The song “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” which I have put together in this video tonight, will make you think!
Especially about your world view and what is happening on the other side of this planet.
I used to sing this song in my youthful male voice quartet days with great confidence.
I have chosen the voice of an African American lady to capture the struggle of faith, to believe that God holds tomorrow in His hands.
With so many negative forces circling the globe including the lives of many christians, its imperitive that we keep faith in God’s word.
Indeed it seems the Spirit of Anti Christ has been let loose and the return of the Lord is nigh.
Take a look and turn up the volume :
Whatever troubles come your way, God is already there, and He will take care of it.
Remember He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient!
Ira Stanphill who wrote this song was born on February 14, 1914.
This is his story:
He lived most of his younger years in Kansas. By the age of 10, he was an accomplished musician, playing the piano, organ, ukulele and accordion.
He also went on to learn the guitar, saxophone, clarinet and xylophone.
Ira accepted Christ at the age of 12. By age 17 he was writing his own music for church services and prayer meetings, and at 22 he began preaching.
Ira served with 9 different organizations in the capacities of youth director, music director and pastor.
He preached across America, and in 40 other countries.
He wrote over 500 gospel songs, such as “Mansion Over The Hilltop”, “Jesus and Me”, “We’ll Talk It Over” and “Happiness is the Lord”.
Ira married Zelma Lawson on April 23, 1939. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1948.
Accounts of Ira’s life offer differing opinions on why they divorced.
Some say that Zelma had addiction problems and left Ira for other men.
Others say that she was an excellent singer and was not content with life in the ministry.
She left to pursue a career in the entertainment field and to become a celebrity.
Whatever the case may be, Zelma’s leaving put Ira in a great state of depression and grief.
He could not understand, after years of being dedicated to the service and ministry of God’s work, why God would allow him to go through this.
Some accounts say that Ira was tempted to give up on Christian work altogether.
The story is told that one day as Ira was driving, deeply sad and in despair, he began to hum a tune.
As the tune became stronger, words formed and Ira started singing!
He sang about not knowing what the future held, but knowing that God would be there to walk with him each step of the way.
When Ira got to his office, his rushed to his piano to write down the words and music to the song we know today as “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”.
I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW 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. 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 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. (Chorus) Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.
Ira married Gloria Holloway in 1951, after Zelma’s unfortunate death in a car accident. Ira and Gloria had two daughters, Judy and Cathy. Ira also had a son Ray by his first marriage. Ira passed from this life on December 30, 1993, from a heart attack.
2024 is nearly here and we don’t know what it will bring.
Difficulties? Yes. Blessings? Absolutely. But make no mistake, whatever tomorrow brings God is already there, working it all out.
Worship Him today, and trust Him with tomorrow. God’s got this even the Wars that trouble your mind.