The valleys we trek through help us to reach the mountain top

Holy Week is almost here.

Christians have trekked together through several weeks of Lent, reflecting on Christ’s suffering and sacrifice — all endured for our sake. And it is good for us. Life is not all mountaintop experiences and emotional highs. There are valleys in our lives as well.

We all know about the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23). We’ve all been through it. Some of us are in it right now. Some of us have recently received scary diagnoses. Some of us have buried our dearest loved ones. Some of us have watched as relationships crumble, career hopes fade, children struggle at school, or parents decline in health.

The season of Lent teaches us how to walk through those valleys. We walk through Lent with the cross of Christ always in view — always looming there on the horizon. It, too, is the valley of the shadow of death—a torturous reality that we cannot ignore.

And yet, the season of Lent teaches us to be strong with the strength of our Lord. Teaches us to fear no evil, for Christ is with us. He is with us all the way to that cross. All the way through the valley of the shadow of death, whatever specific challenges it may hold for us.

And, as Christians, we know that cross is not the end. Just beyond it lies the empty tomb.

There is life on the other side of the valley of the shadow of death. The tomb that could not contain our Savior now contains unbounded promises for us.

Promises of love and life and victory. Because Christ lives, we too shall live, and that promise is always in view — always lingering there alongside the reality of death.

The cross and the empty tomb cannot be separated, because the victory has already been won. And so, even in the midst of Lent, when we don’t normally celebrate so openly, and even in the valley of the shadow of death, when we don’t feel like celebrating, we rejoice in the promises that wait on the other side of the cross.

No matter what we face, we are held securely in God’s promises of life. So, even during Lent (when the word is normally avoided), even in the valley of the shadow of death, even at the grave itself — especially at the grave itself — we make our song: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!