Hard times for Charles A. Tindley, a prominent, but persecuted American-African in the 1850’s, proved to move his pen to write, not in anger or hate, but in faith and love:
“We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time, rolling clouds and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, We will understand it better by and by. By and by.”
C. Tindley didn’t point a blaming finger, he didn’t ask the question why? He sought instead the Lord and His ways, and wrote a song, that we sing today,
By and by when the morning comes, . . . We’ll tell the story how we’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Mr. Tindley was a man of faith. How can we have an overcoming faith? The Word of God is our sword and help. Jesus said to the people,
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world John 16: 33.
We might not understand all the trial and pain we endure now, but with eyes up, we ask, where’s my help coming from?
Our help comes form the Lord who made heaven and earth Psalm 121: 1,2.
And the Lord gives us a trusting faith and we sing, “We will understand it better by and by. By and by.”
“Trials dark on ev’ry hand, and we cannot understand, All the ways that God would lead us to that blessed promised land;
But He’ll guide us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die, We will understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Eyes fixed on Him and minds and hearts in His Word, this is a recipe for faith, every time.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good Romans 12:21.
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith 1 John 5:4.
The song and the Word create inner courage to those who believe. Charles Tindley’s response to pain and hurt speaks loud today. He over-came.
And we will over-come too.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high Psalm 3:3.
Step by step, eyes on the Lord, This man is a witness, among many for us, let us proclaim together,
“We’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:1.
When the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story of how we’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
For you, for me, and all the trials we live through and see, we’ll understand it better, by and by, and in the meantime, we’ll keep trusting God for each new sunrise.
We’ll Understand it Better By and By , Charles A. Tindley, 1905.