Ruth Caye Jones, or “Mother Jones” is the matriarch of the Jones family, who ran a radio program, A Visit with the Joneses for more than 55 years.
This is where it all began back in November 1948, as the radio broadcast originated in the living room of Rev. and Mrs. Bert Jones and their five children. “Home Sweet Home” was a typical house in Dormont, along the famed #42 Trolley line. Amazingly, the sound of the trolley did not interfere with the radio broadcasting in the front sun-parlor area of the living room. This is location where–in late 1943–Ruth Caye Jones wrote the gospel song, In Times Like These which is known around the world. This is also the location where–in 1949–George Beverly Shea first heard the song.
In case that’s all too cryptic, “In Times Like These” is the selection for this week’s edition of Then Sings My Soul: The Hymns of My Youth. I never knew what “times” she meant, but it turns out that “Mother Jones” wrote the song during World War II. When she would watch as George Beverly Shea sang the song on a Billy Graham telecast, tears would come to her eyes and she would say, “I can’t believe I had any part in writing this song. I just feel that God gave it to me, and I gave it to the world.”
During my youth when we sang this song in church, I wasn’t always entirely sure what “times” this meant. I suppose now I know, but often the “uncertain times” which seem to be implied by the song might be seen as a nebulous allusion to the idea that things in the world just keep getting worse and worse. I don’t think I’d follow that implied eschatology, so the background of the hymn setting it during World War II is helpful. I won’t bother to point out that theologically speaking, there aren’t actually any times when we don’t need a saviour. In uncertain times, we certainly do need stability.
In Times Like These
In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!Chorus
In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!Chorus
Thanks for posting Ruth Caye Jones’s hymn, “In Times Like These.” (Today is the anniversary of her death in 1972.) And you’re right: A case can be made for any time being such a time.
As to the implied eschatology that things just keep getting worse and worse. The Bible is pretty clear about that (I Tim. 4:1-3; II Tim. 3:1-5, 13). Tougher times are ahead. But the Lord will not abandon His own.
My husband and I are scheduled to sing Sunday morning in our worship service. We decided on “In Times Like These.” I am 70 years old, and my mind went back to 50 years ago when this song seemed to be so popular. I thought about the then known threats, Communism, the possibility of someone unleashing a unclear warhead, and I assumed this song had been written in that time frame. I was shocked to find that it was written in 1944 during World War II. It seems that there has always been “Times Like These.” Now we are facing different times and threats. People who hate us are willing to blow themselves up in order to kill Americans and think that will get them into heaven! What a surprise when they find out they didn’t make it! What a wonderful song that still remain relevant over the years.