One of the first memory verses of Scripture I ever learned was Psalm 23:4.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Even in times when it seemed as if God was far away He is near. Even when it is so dark around us, even when we stray away as sheep will do, the promise made in our baptism remains.

Named and claimed, marked with the cross of Christ forever. His work, not ours. Ephesians 2:8-10

The valleys of shadow are all around us. Every day we are bombarded with the fallout of this broken world. We endure the consequences of that first original sin that set off a cascade of death, destruction and entropy that will continue until Jesus returns.

As depressing as it may sound on the surface, and as contrary as it may be to popular theology, Jesus said to us, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”(Matthew 16:24-25)

He also warned us we would have trouble in this life.

Even so, we hear of our Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53. The punishment we deserve, that we owe God, is put upon Jesus.

As the perfect Man, the Second Adam, fully human except in regard to sin, and as fully God, only Jesus could be the perfect sacrifice in our place.

In this world we will have trouble, but we are not alone.

The apostle Paul teaches us: “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”-2 Corinthians 1:5 (ESV)