Hymns: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Following the loss of his beloved wife, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow found the holidays to be unbearably sad.  The tension and brutality caused by the Civil War only added to his grief.  As Christmas approached, a darkness descended.  The final straw came when his son, Charles, was injured during the war in 1863.  Longfellow waved the flag of surrender and abandoned any hope of God bringing peace on earth.  However, something awakened within him on Christmas Day in 1864.  He penned the words of his poem, "Christmas Bells," which was eventually shortened to 5 stanzas, and transformed into a carol.  For more information you can read more here.

In this song, we are reminded that God is in control, even in when we can't see him working because we surrounded by darkness.  God is not dead, nor does he sleep.  So we can trust him, even in times when we do not know what he is doing. I think it was C. H. Spurgeon who said, "When you can't trace God's hand, trust his heart."  Longfellow says the same thing, but in slightly different words.

Here are the lyrics:

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I though how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth" I said
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep,
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Here is a video of, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," arranged by Mark Hall, performed by Casting Crowns.