Ready for Turmoil

Are you ready for what's coming?

2025 is expected to be a turbulent year. We have a change in government in the States that promises to be disruptive. World events are not very encouraging. It feels like our societal fabric is falling apart. Pick up the news, and things are anything but stable or ordinary.

George Friedman believes we are experiencing an unprecedented convergence of two significant historical cycles in American history. The first is an 80-year cycle of significant institutional and political changes, similar to those seen during the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War II. The second is a 50-year cycle that influences social and economic changes, such as the rise and fall of social classes and economic systems. These cycles are expected to peak in the late 2020s, causing disruption but ultimately leading to renewal.

Even if Friedman’s theories aren’t correct, it’s not hard to guess that the next few years will be tumultuous. Buckle up.

Are you ready? You can be. Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses, and it makes two main points.

First, it reminds us that our lives are short, fleeting, and difficult.

Tough times are nothing new. We can expect to live in hard times. The reality is our lives are short and difficult. We shouldn't be surprised by tumultuous times; we should expect them.

You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”…
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?
(Psalm 90:3, 5-11)

Bottom line: life is short and hard. We shouldn’t be surprised when life’s difficult. It was in Moses’ time, and it’s the same today. Don't expect to live your best life right now. That’s not how life works in this broken world.

Crazy times are normal until Jesus comes again.

Second, it reminds us where we can find our hope in difficult times.

But Psalm 90 isn't a discouraging psalm. Although it teaches us what life is like, it's also a psalm of great confidence. The reason why is that Moses sees God for who he is.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
(Psalm 90:1-2)

Because of this vision of God, he’s able to pray for God’s help even when life seems out of control:

Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
(Psalm 90:13-17)

Look at what’s happening here, and you’ll be discouraged. Look heavenward, and you can hope, even when things look crazy.

Although our lives are fleeting, God is eternal and in control. And so Moses is able to turn his attention to God, to plead for his mercy. Moses finds his hope not in how well life is going on earth, but in how well God is reigning in heaven.

I'm convinced that God's people prosper most when circumstances in the world are at their worst. It's going to be a difficult year. It may be a difficult few years. We must keep our attention on the Lord and not on things of this world.

Are you prepared for the turmoil? We can be. Our hope is in the Lord, and that is a very good reason to hope, even when the world is going crazy around us.