in times like these

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 1943

This hymn was written in a moment of deep global anxiety, and it was meant to steady people when everything felt uncertain.

📜 Origins of “In Times Like These”

  • Author & Composer: Ruth Caye Jones

  • Year written: 1943

  • Country: United States

  • Style: Gospel hymn

Ruth Caye Jones was a Christian musician and hymn writer who lived through World War II, and that historical setting is key to understanding the hymn.

🌍 Historical Context & Inspiration

“In Times Like These” was written during World War II, when fear, loss, and instability were everyday realities:

  • Families were separated

  • Young men were being sent to war

  • The future felt frightening and uncertain

Jones wrote the hymn as a song of reassurance, pointing listeners back to Christ as an unchanging foundation.

The repeated line—

“Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock”
was meant to calm anxious hearts.

✝️ Biblical Imagery in the Hymn

The hymn draws heavily from Scripture:

  • The Solid Rock → 1 Corinthians 10:4 (Christ as the Rock)

  • The Anchor → Hebrews 6:19 (“an anchor of the soul”)

These metaphors were especially meaningful during a time when everything else felt unstable.

🎼 Musical Style & Use

  • Simple melody, easy to memorize

  • Repetitive chorus for encouragement

  • Suitable for both solo and congregational singing

It quickly became popular in:

  • Churches during the war years

  • Prayer services

  • Youth and revival meetings

🌍 Impact and Legacy

  • Continues to be sung during times of crisis

  • Often used after tragedies or during uncertain seasons

  • Found in many evangelical and gospel hymnals

Its message remains timeless:

When the world shakes, Christ does not.

🕊️ Core Theme

At its heart, In Times Like These is about:

  • Assurance in chaos

  • Stability in Christ

  • Courage to face an uncertain future

It’s less about denying fear—and more about anchoring hope.

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