When All Went Dark

Author: Jeremy Lelek

Category: Biblical Counseling, Blog, Counseling

Good Friday.

It almost seems a contradiction in terms—good and Friday—when we consider the brutal crucifixion of the sinless Son of God. The One who healed the sick, calmed the storm, and called the dead to life was mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross. And yet, it was through this very darkness that redemption broke into our world.

As I reflect on Good Friday, I am struck not only by the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice but by the weight it carries for those we counsel—those sitting in the shadows of despair, shame, trauma, and sorrow. There’s something about this day that gives voice to the ache of the human condition.

You see, many of those we walk alongside are well acquainted with grief. They know betrayal. They understand loss. They feel the sting of rejection. And while the world rushes to bypass pain in search of perpetual happiness, Good Friday invites us to pause. It invites us to look straight into the sorrow—and not turn away.

This day reminds us that Jesus did not run from the agony of the cross. He entered it willingly. He absorbed the full weight of sin and its curse so that we might be healed. And in doing so, He dignified suffering—not by glamorizing it, but by redeeming it.

I think of the counselee who can barely lift her head because of past abuse. I think of the young man crushed by guilt over the sins he can’t seem to outrun. I think of the pastor who quietly carries the burden of burnout and shame. Good Friday speaks to each of them—not with platitudes or quick fixes, but with the solid, blood-stained truth: You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not beyond grace.

In counseling, we often sit in the dark with people. It is sacred ground. But as biblical counselors, we never sit without hope. We know the story doesn’t end at the cross. But we must not rush past it either. Because it is there—in the silence, in the shadows, in the anguish—that the depths of God’s love are most clearly seen.

So today, sit with the sorrow. Gaze at the cross. Allow your heart to be gripped once again by the truth that when all went dark, Light was about to break forth. And when you look into the eyes of those who suffer, remember: you serve a Savior who entered the darkness first.

For that, we call this Friday good.

Posted on April 18, 2025