A Settled Mind in Unsettling Times
By Tom Gilbreath
2026 had barely begun when stunning new developments raised major questions about what happens next. In the early morning hours of January 3rd, US forces (including law enforcement personnel) captured the indicted felon and illegitimate president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.
At a press conference later that morning, President Donald Trump seemed to announce a major US nation building operation in that country. He didn’t call it “nation building,” but when asked who is running Venezuela, he responded, “We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” He spoke of rebuilding their infrastructure. He said this will go on for “a period of time,” but didn’t say how long. He also said he’s not afraid of the phrase, “boots on the ground.”
A reporter asked what if the US “ends up administering Venezuela for years.” He answered, “It won't cost us anything because the money coming out of the ground is very substantial…. We're going to get reimbursed for everything that we spend.”
I don’t write this to condemn President Trump or his team. I hope they can deliver on their promises. Venezuela’s recent history has been a series of tragedies. Those Americans who want socialism here in this country should look closely at what happened after socialist Hugo Chavez took over Venezuela in the late 1990s. Venezuela’s proven oil reserves surpass that of Saudi Arabia. They should be a rich country, and President Trump wants to help them achieve prosperity and stability.
But after Viet Nam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the idea of nation building unsettles many Americans. Like scores of other things happening in the world, it feels disconcerting. Other examples include AI and the machine apocalypse, the increasing threat of nuclear war, pandemics, terrorism’s frightening new reach, the rise of deadly technologies, a global moral freefall and the resulting mental disorders suffered by billions.
Philippians 4:8 tells us to think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely. Through this scripture, God admonishes us to contemplate virtuous things and things of good report. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above.”
Does that mean we should hide our eyes from negative things? Should we bury our heads in the deep sand of social media curated to say only what we want to hear? In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus scolded people for not recognizing the signs of the times. And in Matthew 24, among other places, He told us signs we are to be looking for. That means we have to pull our heads out of the sand and look around.
Watching the signs of the times does not contradict centering our thoughts on the pure and the lovely. Setting our minds on things above allows us to see the things of earth in the light of God’s presence, His redemption, His love, and His kingdom. Keeping Him as our context allows us to see the world’s dangers while remaining full of hope and faith. In Him, the world’s most terrifying things can be examined in complete honesty… without fear.
