I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

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 1950

“I Don’t Know About Tomorrow” is a well-loved Southern gospel hymn with a pretty comforting backstory.

Who wrote it

  • The hymn was written by Ira F. Stanphill (1914–1993), an American gospel songwriter, singer, and evangelist.

  • Stanphill wrote hundreds of gospel songs, but this one became his most famous.

When and why it was written

  • Stanphill wrote the hymn around 1950, during a time when the world was still recovering from World War II and many people were anxious about the future.

  • He later shared that the song came from his own reflections on uncertainty and faith—recognizing that while humans can’t predict tomorrow, God already holds it.

Message of the hymn

  • The central theme is trust in God amid uncertainty.

  • The opening line, “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day,” captures the honest anxiety people feel, while the refrain answers it with faith:

    “But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

  • Because of this, the hymn is often associated with comfort during illness, loss, or major life changes.

How it became popular

  • The song gained wide recognition after it was recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford, whose warm, reassuring style helped bring it into mainstream Christian and gospel music.

  • It was soon adopted into hymnals and became a staple in churches, revivals, and gospel concerts.

Legacy

  • Today, the hymn is often also known by its refrain title, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.”

  • It remains popular in Southern gospel, traditional worship services, and funerals, where its message of hope and trust resonates deeply.

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