Valley

Jesus walked this lonesome valley,
he had to walk it by himself;
O, nobody else could walk it for him,
he had to walk it by himself.

The words from this old African American song ring true on today, Good Friday. We think of the journey that Jesus took to the cross. The betrayal, abandonment, arrest, trial and beatings. The painful walk to Calvary with the load of the cross on His back.

And then the nailing to the cross to slowly and painfully die.

He had to do it by Himself. No rescue. No relief. He walked it by Himself.

And because He walked that lonesome valley, because He endured the pain and suffering ultimately to His death it means that we never ever have to walk a dark valley alone.

It says in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

By dying on the cross for us, even death becomes a shadow. Rendered powerless. And so while we all walk through valleys, we can walk with our hearts at peace for Jesus is there with us.

Whatever our lonesome valley, be it pain or illness, grief or disappointment, Jesus is right beside us and we are not alone.

Good Friday. Our redemption.