Look for the rainbows

‘People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses. Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near.’ (verses 26-28)

Read Luke 21:20-28

Are you afraid of storms? Sometimes they can be pretty frightening, with the vivid flashes of lightning and the deafening crashes of thunder that roll into the distance. But after the storm has gone, we can go outside, look up and see God’s rainbow of promise.

If we read just the first sentence of today’s text, we could become faint with fear about what might happen to us. It’s a frightening prediction. Imagine all the powers of space being driven from their courses. That would be chaos. How would we ever survive? But that’s not all. Look at what follows: Jesus is coming! Stand up and look up. Your salvation is near. God’s promise is there­ the rainbow of promise. We will see Jesus in all his glory. We will meet God face to face.

When the storms come or trouble strikes, often we can’t see beyond what is happening, and we are paralysed with fear. But Jesus says, ‘When these things begin to happen, stand up, look up.’ Look at the rainbow of promise. Jesus is there, even in the chaos. See God’s hand in it all, and look for the rainbow.

Can I suggest that you make a big rainbow with the words: ‘I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future’. Put it somewhere where you can see it-on your fridge door perhaps-and let it remind you of God’s rainbow promise.

God, please help me to stand up, look up and see your rainbow of promise – the salvation you have already won for me. Amen.

by Merna Thamm, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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