Tea steeped in the pot between us, while outside a mixture of finches visited the feeder above the snow. Nearby, the fire whistled and popped. Peaceful. A simple “How are you?” interrupted the scene with my friend’s admission of distress. “These are such troubled times. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
These are troubled times. Some of the chaos isn’t new. Every generation has it’s distress, though the names of the characters change. After all, purple finches have never been “purple”; they’ve always been red. In troubled times, we have a lot more than the color of finches on our hearts. What can we trust?
Not knowing what to trust troubles us. I, for one, am not sure who’s telling the truth most of the time! I read what friends post but don’t “like” or share, because I’m reluctant to pass on unverified, false claims. While I don’t believe the sky is falling, after hearing it over and over, my eyes instinctively glance upward—just to check. In troubled times, even what was true before seems to be uncertain.
So what are we to do in times when even a “purple finch” isn’t actually purple and we’re glancing up more often in case the sky really falls? We know, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) but when we’re living it, the trouble is fresh. My younger friends feel it, and my older friends feel it. What are we going to do?
Writers Who Lived in Troubled Times
A group of writers living in a time of wealth and war wrote an answer to this question. The “Sons of Korah” were part of the group who led worship in their society under the leadership of King David, the ruler who began as a shepherd. The Sons lived in times when people put their confidence in the wealthy and powerful, while oppressing the poor and vulnerable. Sound familiar?
These Sons of Korah were warriors and worshippers, and God gave them understanding about how God’s truth intersects troubled times. They recorded it in a song for their day. Since trouble has a way of repeating throughout history, the truth-song also works for now.
The audience of Psalm 49 includes all people, locally and globally. You can read the whole song here. It addresses the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless. It is about humanity and for humanity. The Sons say, “My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.”
Bring it on!
“Why should I fear in times of trouble?” (verse 5a). With my tea in hand and purple (really red) finches at the window, I’m on the edge of my seat, waiting for their answer.
REST in What’s REAL in Troubled Times
We need to know how to know what’s real. Uncertainty spirals into anxiety when we don’t know what we can count on. The Sons explain. (All of the quotes are from Psalm 49.)
- We’re surrounded by cheaters—people who “trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches.” We’re not imagining things.
- We’re short-lived. “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life.” My translation: The powerful only think they’re powerful.
- We’re certain. “Even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.” Every human life ends.
Those who put their trust in the wealth generated by ambition, in their time that is temporary, and in their control of circumstances are on, “the path of those who have foolish confidence.”
Power and prosperity are illusions we can’t trust. Earthly riches, power, and even life are temporary—not to be counted on. Instead, we can know what’s REAL. God preserved His word for us so we can have a reliable way to guide our thinking.
There will be people who applaud the “foolish confidence” crowd addicted to ambition. Not even the best fixer in the world can keep the world’s wealthy and powerful from meeting the same end as the pauper, the unemployed, and the destitute. Because of this truth, in troubled times we have to reorient ourselves.
REORIENT my Thinking to What REMAINS After Troubled Times
The way of those who put their trust in God is so different than the “foolish confidence” path. What path on you on during these times or uncertainty? There’s less traffic on the trust-in-God-path, but it’s the path that leads through troubled times.
Psalm 49 reassures me that God “will ransom my soul” from the power of evil that strangles the world we live in—He’ll take it back from despair. In fact, God Himself “will receive me.” My future is secure, even if the sky does fall someday.
God ransoms and receives us from negative power over our lives. This truth carries us in troubled times if we turn our focus away from power hungry people and the “falling sky.” Instead, it’s possible to walk in the peace promised by the Heavenly Father. This is why the Sons encourage us to, “Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.” (Psalm 49:16)
It’s easy to get caught up and consumed with the crowd going the way of “foolish confidence.” That’s a dead end. I don’t have to let them drag me that direction. Pompous people will pass. Instead, God’s word shows us what lasts—what will remain when all the wealth and power, all the technology and posturing has long since passed away.
Giving trouble our full attention robs us of our present peace and future hope. Instead, we can reorient our thinking and our conversations to line up in the direction of what’s eternal.
“But what about the trouble right now?” people like us ask in every generation since the Sons of Korah wrote Psalm 49.
- For now, we can rest in setting our minds on what’s REAL. Reject what’s not real, not verified, not sure, and don’t amplify those messages.
- Reorient our thinking and living to prioritize what REMAINS. What will out-live this trouble? Invest, speak up for, and hold fast to what will last.
The warrior-worshiper Sons of Korah in King David’s day close the song with this summary statement: “Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49:20)
Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?
We don’t have to. When trouble rises and we feel anxiety rising with it, we can rest in what’s true and reorient ourselves to what outlasts chaos and conflict. Troubled times are times to reach out for divine help and support. With the wisdom and understanding God promises, we can rise above and through troubled times.
(All excerpts taken from Psalm 49 unless otherwise noted.)
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