As they led Jesus away, they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

Scripture records that Simon was forced by Roman soldiers to carry the cross for Jesus. In light of their cruelty during the scourging of their prisoner, the soldiers probably didn't act out of compassion. No doubt the brutal scourging had so weakened Jesus that the soldiers grew impatient with his stumbling and falling in their haste to put him to death. So they pressed an onlooker into service and made him carry the cross to Golgotha.

A large crowd followed Jesus, but the disciples had scattered. Peter had denied knowing his friend and had then wept with regret. Surely he later thought, "That should have been me carrying his cross, not that man Simon. That should have been me."

Like Peter, we have all felt shame for our failures, instances when we meant to be strong and faithful but failed. Most of our failures occur in private, but sometimes we fall in an utterly public manner. Friends and family see us succumb to weakness and frailty. Ashamed and embarrassed, our urge is to flee, to build protective emotional barriers, or to erect walls of defiance.

God's love during those painful times is our shield, not just from the judgment of others, but also from the guilt and shame we take on ourselves. Without God's love, Peter would never have had the courage to take up his cross and do the Lord's work with boldness and bravery.

Because of God's love, we too can rise when we fall and stand strong in the crosswinds. And if we listen carefully, we can hear the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. "There is no need to stand and weep over the spot where you have fallen."