Have you ever wondered what might inspire someone to write a song?  What event or circumstance motivates a person to sit down and write the words and/or music?  In 1944, in the height of World War II, the stress and conflict weighed heavily on British housewife, Ruth Caye Jones. In the midst of going about her daily chores, she felt God speaking to her with these words.  She stopped what she was doing and immediately wrote down both the words and the music.

Twenty or so years later,  I heard my father sang this song as a solo in church.  He didn’t have the powerful voice of George Beverly Shea (even though they shared a first name), but he certainly had the conviction.  His tenor was clear, the message strong.  I only recall him ever singing two solos, this one, and “I Believe in Miracles”.  Just as people have  a reason to write a song, I think my father had very personal reasons to sing the songs he did.  This I know: these two songs best sum up what he taught me.

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
The Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor hold 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.

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.