I Want Jesus Who Walks With Me

They trudged the dusty road, so sad and overwhelmed. Their beloved Jesus had died and they thought He was gone. They’d heard Jesus was alive and resurrected, but they hadn’t actually seen Him. 

All they could see was stifling darkness around them. Their pain felt like the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12) had been snuffed out. 

They wanted Jesus back, walking their rocky journey beside them, not knowing how they could go on without Him.

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
when I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
when my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

(“I Want Jesus to Walk With Me,” African-American spiritual)

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him (Lk. 24:15-16 ESV).

Jesus walked alongside them, teaching how His perfect life, death, and resurrection had fulfilled promises and prophecies in Scripture. Their hearts burned as He drew near in that long walk. With each step, He brought them close and then…

Their eyes were opened (Lk. 24:31)

and they knew it was Jesus walking with them, the entire time! 

In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
in my trials, Lord, walk with me;
when my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Jesus walks with me

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Lk. 24:45-47 ESV).

Selah.

Jesus walks with me as the Light

Beloved, in our suffering and trial, Jesus is indeed walking with us.

With.

Us.

As people from all nations continue to become believers, we see His active presence and redeeming work. We can’t physically see Jesus yet, but that day is coming for those whom our Father has “qualified…to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12 ESV). Hallelujah! Oh, what gospel hope for a suffering believer! 

As we pray for Him to walk with us in our pain, we know He’s always with us as He continues to build His kingdom. 

So, then what? We pray that He will help us walk as a child of the Light, in this very time of suffering. 

I want to walk as a child of the Light

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) (Eph. 5:8-9 ESV).

In our pilgrim journey through this fallen and dark world of suffering, knowing that Jesus is always with us, how is He strengthening you to walk with His power and glorious might? How is He helping you endure with patience and joy? (Col. 1:11)

How is this time of suffering a time to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10)? 

I want Jesus to walk with me,
I want Jesus to walk with me;
all along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Jesus walks with me in this time of suffering

We’re all swallowing hard, seeing it, living it, and walking in it. Global and personal suffering are very real. In your suffering right now, what is the Holy Spirit speaking to you through Scripture, knowing Jesus walks with you? Why are we still here on this groaning earth? He keeps bringing me back to the Scripture below, in my personal suffering right now.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Pet. 2:9 ESV).

For me, it’s become a new offering to the Lord with gifts to believing sisters, writing about our gospel-centered hope in Christ, and sharing accompanying music to sing. All of it is using my professional work and learning in a new way, with deep love and empathy for those who suffer as I have and desire for God to be glorified as we suffer. Dear sister in Christ, I pray our Lord guides you too because suffering is a unique time as He walks with us. What is He teaching you as He walks with you?

Write me! I’d love to pray for you as you walk your hard journey and seek to please your beloved Savior in the hard.

Walking with Jesus playlist

This week, my playlist gift helps us pray-sing to Him. It’s a prayer-full time to praise and adore Jesus, singing Scriptural promises to His ears and our hearts, asking Him to help us walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, as we suffer right now. If this would bless you as you walk with Jesus, here’s the link to receive it in your email.

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