I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

By Ira F. Stanphill

Lyrics

1. 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.

Refrain:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Bible Reference

Matthew 6:34

About This Hymn

"I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" is a deeply personal and faith-filled hymn written by Ira F. Stanphill in 1950, during a season of trial and uncertainty in his life. Drawing inspiration from Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6:34, this hymn reminds believers that while the future is unknown and often uncertain, it is safely held in the hands of a loving and sovereign God. With lyrics that reflect real human fears and frailty, the hymn resonates with the believer’s daily walk of faith — not knowing what lies ahead, but being comforted in the assurance that God is already there.

Stanphill’s lyrics paint a contrast between the unpredictability of life and the unchanging reliability of God. The refrain, repeating the truth that “many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand,” is immediately followed by the declaration, “But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” This line encapsulates the heart of Christian trust — not in outcomes, but in the presence and guidance of the Lord. The tune, also composed by Stanphill, is simple, warm, and memorable, allowing the truth to linger in the mind long after the singing has ended.

Born in 1914, Ira F. Stanphill was a prolific gospel songwriter and preacher whose life was marked by both ministry and personal sorrow. His compositions often reflect a journey through hardship into spiritual maturity and confidence in God. "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow" stands among his most enduring works, offering encouragement to countless believers who face life’s unknowns with trembling hearts. It serves not just as a song, but as a quiet testimony of faith: that though the future is hidden from our view, it is not hidden from God. This hymn continues to comfort Christians by anchoring their hope in the character of the One who sees the end from the beginning and walks every step beside them.

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