I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Of all the traditional carols recanted during Christmas, none convey the struggle between agony and hope quite like “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Written on Christmas day, 1864, during the heart of the American Civil War, Longfellow overcame immense, personal sorrow and depression—physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, by writing from his painful perspective in the midst of great trial and turmoil.
Fast-forward 157 years later and Longfellow’s poem, “Christmas Bells,” later adapted with music by John Baptiste Calkin and rebranded as “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day,” is a hidden treasure in the pantheon on holiday carols we remember each season.
However, despite its innocent title, “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” is not the typical, happy carol we’re accustomed to singing. Rather, it is a raw and personal faith story of finding peace, joy and hope at Christmas amidst the backdrop of trial and tribulation.
Keep in mind, what makes the Christmas season so intriguing is that despite being known as a joyous holiday, for many people, it is an annual reminder of pain, suffering and personal loss which can be emotionally overwhelming at times, even to the point of depression or suicide.
Therefore, considering the depth and breadth of its hopeful message from a man who suffered such great loss, worry and torment in his life, “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” is a song we desperately need to reflect upon to not lose sight of what Christmas truly means.
“Longfellow had fallen into a depression in 1861 when his second wife Frances died. She had been sealing envelopes with hot wax when a flame caught her clothes on fire. Henry had rushed to her aid and tried to smother the flames. But by the time the fire was out, Frances had been burned beyond recovery. She died the next day. Henry, burned badly as well, was too sick to attend her funeral. The death marked a turning point in Longfellow’s life. His physical appearance changed dramatically as he began growing his beard because the burns disfigured his face. Mentally, he sank into depression.
In 1863, Longfellow suffered another blow. The poet was a staunch abolitionist, but he, like the entire country, was troubled by the Civil War. His son Charley in March of 1863 had decided that, regardless of his father’s wishes, he would join the fight. He ran off to Washington to enlist in the 1st Massachusetts Artillery. Longfellow feared for his son’s future.
In June, Charley came down with a fever. Longfellow went to Washington and brought him back to spend summer on leave at the family cottage in Nahant, Mass. In November, Charley’s own luck ran out. At New Hope, Va., his unit was engaged in a battle and he was shot. The bullet went through him from back to shoulder, just nicking his spine. Again Longfellow had to travel to Washington to retrieve his son from the hospital. They arrived back at their Cambridge home on December 8, and a grim Longfellow set about the months-long process of trying to nurse his son back to health.”
What makes this song so compelling is it echoes the struggle of human souls on a daily basis. Like many of us, Longfellow struggled with fear, doubt, anxiety and regret as a result of unfortunate circumstances. Undoubtedly, he was overcome with spiritual warfare, for personal trials continued to test his faith.
Yet in the midst of darkness surrounding, he managed to cling to hope despite his fleshly inclination to doubt God’s sovereignty. His lyrics, shifting back and forth between faith and doubt, demonstrate the need for all of us to preach God’s Word to our hearts, especially when trials overwhelm, pain is unbearable, and hope seems virtually impossible to attain.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
SPIRITUAL MARKERS:
LYRICS (Verse-1) — “I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play. And mild and sweet their songs repeat, of peace on Earth, good will to men.”
I love how the song/poem opens with memories of days long past. For in the midst of trials, we often fail to look back and recognize seasons of joy in our lives. Present trials tend to overwhelm our focus and it’s easy to lose sight of hope when anxiety clouds our judgement.
Therefore, it is imperative we rejoice when all hope seems lost and remember God is omniscient and sovereign in the midst of trials, even when we can’t comprehend nor understand the greater purpose of our afflictions.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4–7).
Peace can also be found in our recollection and recognition of past spiritual markers where God has proved his faithfulness to us. In the Old Testament, God’s people would often build stone memorials so future generations would never forget the mighty works He performed to save and sustain His people.
Spiritual markers can also be instrumental in helping us navigate our next steps when the enemy overwhelms us with frustration and despair. In those moments, we must wash our minds with the water of God’s Word, because “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Make no mistake, trusting God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean life will be easy. Rather, it means in the midst of trial, we can still hear the mild, peaceful sweetness of the bells because we’ve placed our faith and trust in Christ, rather than our ability to control our circumstances.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5–8).
ENDURING GOSPEL:
LYRICS (Verse-2) — “I thought how, as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Continuing the theme of bells continuously ringing, Longfellow reminds us how the Gospel song of salvation has been resolute and unbroken throughout the ages. Therefore, despite war, famine and persecution, Christianity has endured thousands of years as an unbroken song of peace and love to the brokenhearted.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
Therefore, those who place eternal trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins have assurance that despite the hardships and sufferings of this world, the bell towers of salvation will forever ring without ceasing, guiding us home to our eternal resting place in heaven one day.
For Scripture affirms, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Therefore, the Gospel will endure the test of time as it always has because God is faithful, His promises are true, and His love is never-ending.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:1–5).
SPIRITUAL WARFARE:
LYRICS (Verse-3) — “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.”
Yet despite the enduring promise of peace which one day awaits, Longfellow offers a vulnerable glimpse into his heart which mirrors our own. Here the inner struggle of mankind is magnified because doubt creeps into our minds when unending pain, evil and injustice are allowed to exist in this world.
Keep in mind, Longfellow wrote this poem during the American Civil War. He travelled to be with his son and help nurse him back to health, only to watch him return to the battlefield and be inevitably discharged from service after receiving a near-fatal gunshot wound.
Therefore, it’s not difficult to understand how pessimistic Longfellow became during the middle of a war at home, which inevitably claimed the lives of an est. 750,000 soldiers by its climactic end in 1865 (i.e. equivalent to 7.5-8.0/million soldiers based on current population statistics in the United States).
What is oddly encouraging about this 3rd verse, though, is Longfellow’s emotional honesty which he’s unashamed to express. In other words, he questions God’s sovereignty without losing faith in God Himself, similar to the Psalms where David struggled to reconcile his own feelings.
“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:1-6).
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS:
LYRICS (Verse-4) — “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.”
However, just like David, Longfellow quickly dismisses his doubt and reminds himself that God is still in control despite the circumstances surrounding and impacting him personally. The bells which continue to ring and resonate deep within his heart remind him of God’s unending faithfulness, even when he cannot comprehend it.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1–3).
That is a powerful message we need to hear this Christmas season, for our world is plagued by sin and death, pain and suffering, and sometimes it feels like God is ever distant in our time of need, though He is closer to us than we could ever imagine.
Yet in the end, we know the Lord is consistently faithful to those who trust in His provision, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).
Pain and suffering will always be a part of life in this fallen world, but we are not bound by the evils of this world. We can choose to pursue peace on earth and promote good will towards mankind despite our pain and suffering, for we know our eternal resting place is secure through salvation in Christ.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).
FUTURE HOPE:
LYRICS (Verse-5) — “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!
The carol concludes with an emphatic assurance of hope that despite the trials we face in life, the bells announcing the birth of Christ will continue to ring whether we care to listen or not. For Jesus’ birth is God’s provision of immeasurable love and salvation to us in the midst of our pain, and we are wise to accept His free gift without hesitation.
Therefore, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23–25).
Christmas is indeed a cause for celebration, but as “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” reminds us (music video attached), it is also an opportunity to pause and reflect on God’s provision of peace amidst the pain, and good will to mankind. For trials will continue to abound and test the resolve of our faith, but we are not bound by guilt, shame, sorrow or regret.
Rather, pain will inevitably go away and the joy of our salvation restored when we meet our Savior face to face one day, because Christmas is about God’s gift of eternal hope and love to those of us who desperately need that reminder.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).
