05/31/2026
Unprecedented Times
Dear Lord, We know that You are here for us and provide a solid place for us to stand even in unprecedented times. Amen
Psalm 46:1 (NRSV) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
How many times recently have we heard the term “unprecedented times” to refer to life currently? This term can reflect on various happenings that have occurred or are currently occurring such as political divisiveness, the current conflict with Iran, terrorism, school shootings, inflation and not so long ago, the Covid 19 pandemic. Sometimes this term is even used for personal tragedies.
While the details of today’s events may be unique, the spirit of them—human suffering, moral decline, and God’s call to respond—has been present throughout history. Although today’s challenges may feel new, history shows that many of today’s crises have parallels in the past. The Bible records several “unprecedented” moments — from the flood in Noah’s day, to the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt to the birth of Christ. In 1948, C.S. Lewis wrote this advice, when people were concerned about atomic bombs; his words are just as applicable today as they were then. He said, “In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents’.”
Nathan Morris, a Chrisitan evangelist says, “We’re living in those unprecedented times. Certainly, in the last century, we’ve never seen what is happening in the world today. And yet, as God’s people, we’ve not been called to run and hide, we’ve been called to stand in faith, in the light of Christ, to speak to a generation”. Amidst the chaos of our present times, we are called to be ambassadors of hope. Scripture encourages us to be the light of the world, shining brightly in times of darkness.
God is our refuge. Even in chaos, God is in control. The Bible reminds us that God’s purposes are eternal and His Word remains unchanged. We need to remember that unprecedented times are not a reason to abandon faith — they are an invitation to deepen it. We already have God’s love, grace, and hope to be our anchor at any time. As a Christian, we can draw strength from that continuity, trust God’s promises, and live out our faith in a way that reflects His character.
1. How do we respond as Christians in these unprecedented times of great uncertainty?
2. Do you feel that what the world is currently going through really is unprecedented?
3. What qualities might God develop in us through these unprecedented situations?
4. What do you personally struggle the most with in unprecedented times?
“The catastrophe now threatening us is unprecedented — and we often confuse the unprecedented with the improbable.” ~ Al Gore
“Everything feels unprecedented when you haven’t engaged with history.” ~ Morgan Housel
“In our unprecedented times, we still serve an unprecedented God.” ~ Kori Yates
