Luke 21

In Luke 21 Jesus sits down his disciples and tells them about their future.  Their painful future.

(paraphrased) "The temple will be destroyed; earthquakes, famine, and disease will ravage you, people will hate you, you will terrified and beaten, and your own family is going to turn you in to be imprisoned and killed.  Others will be stabbed and led into captivity.  All of creation will seem to be working against mankind - the wind, the ocean, the sun, moon, and stars.  People will feel small and endangered.  The horror will be so great that there will be 'people fainting with fear.' "

Yet, in the middle of this daunting prophecy, Jesus ensures them that, even when life is its darkest, God is working for their good.

"This will be your opportunity to witness." (verse 13)
"I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict." (verse 15)
"By your endurance you will gain your lives." (verse 18)

With this confidence, Jesus calls them to "straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (verse 28) and to "watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with... cares of this life." (verse 34)

We too can raise our heads in the middle of relentless pain.