"Never a trial that he is not there."

Hymn: “Moment by Moment” –Daniel W. Whittle (1840-1901)

Tune: WHITTLE

These hymn-lines basically speak in a series of ‘never’ statements. It sort of puts us in the territory of never, never… or Never, Never Land!

Who doesn’t love the Peter Pan saga of the Lost Boys who live and fight pirates in the Never Woods on the fictitious island? In the earliest versions of his play, J. M. Barrie called it the Never, Never, Never Land, and it has become a metaphor for the escapism to everlasting childhood. We’ve all seen the movie, the play, the Broadway musical – or read the Wonder books.

But these hymn-lines speak of a very grown-up place in which we Christian people are kept near to the heart of God … year by year, month by month, week by week, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment – as in Tick-Tock the Croc, I guess.

There is nothing fictitious about this region of living where there is

•          never a trial that he is not there
•          never a burden that he doth not bear
•          never a sorrow that he doth not share
•          never a weakness that he doth not feel
•          never a sickness that he cannot heal.

It is merely a list of ‘nevers’ tucked into the second and third stanzas of an old gospel song. There’s not much to add to its straight-forward message… and/or its simple truth.

So move over, Tinkerbell, Wendy Darling, Captain Hook and Peter Pan. The he in our hymn-line takes center stage… and there’s nothing about him that is even close to a fairy tale. Welcome to Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Land!

“Be content, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’" (Hebrews 13:5)

Listen to a Simple Singing by a Youth Choir

Originally Posted 08/26/13