There’s a comfort in having someone to walk with me.   It might be a quiet trail in the woods; someone to walk with me eases the loneliness.   It could be a tough patch of life’s trials; it’s overwhelming alone but so much easier with a friend at my side. We’ve all experienced the reassurance of “sharing the load” with someone who walks with us.  

The hymn writers use this imagery to describe our longing to have Jesus “walk with us.”   Our Lord is not a far-away God, unreachable and ensconced in the heavens.   Our Lord Jesus is a Savior and friend who walks with us, like a brother.  Think about it, when you walk with someone you won’t be going in opposite directions, but side-by-side.  If you walk in a different direction you couldn’t  listen to them,  enjoy them, or share things with them. When you walk with the Lord, your focus will be on Him and His unconditional love.

One of our favorite Lenten hymns expresses this so well, “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.”   This African American spiritual is so simple, but the message is so profound.

“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.

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.

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.”

Side-by-side Lord, walk with me.

Judy