Skillet has released a Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) track called Valley of Death.
The global health crisis of the last two years has led to numerous questions regarding why bad things happen to good people. Skillet's John Cooper explains why he believes God allowed the pandemic to happen.
Skillet has released their new album Dominion through Atlantic Records last Friday (Jan. 14). A discussion with 'Loudwire Nights' host Toni Gonzalez brought up the track "Valley of Death," which contains the lyrics: "Someone said this is all part of the plan / But I don't understand." Gonzalez then asked him why he thinks God would allow a pandemic.
This is what Cooper said: "Well, the first answer is that we're not good people. We're all fallen and we are all in desperate need of salvation through Jesus. So, we're not actually good people, we all do bad stuff. We all cheat, we've all lied, we're all greedy and as much as the most loving person in the whole world that you'll ever find, that person is actually still very far off from what mankind was supposed to be, and certainly far off from who God is and the way that God truly loves in a perfect way."
Despite that answer, the singer acknowledged that these trials and tribulations people go through, such as being 15 years old when his mother died of cancer, don't necessarily ease the pain.
"... most people would agree that when you go through trials in life, whatever they may be, there is this idea that in the end, if you make good decisions, if you follow it through, if you change your mind and struggle through it, you come out on the back side stronger than when you started," he continued. "I think religious people and non-religious people seem to agree on this idea that being through the fire, that sort of refines the gold if you will, that's what makes you stronger."
"And a lot of people say, 'You know what, that was really difficult, but I wouldn't change it because it made me who I am today.' And I guess what I'm saying is, in the same way on a Bible perspective, we go through these things so that God can change us and he can remind us of how much we actually need him. If we don't have grace from God every single day, we are not going to make it."
Lyrics:
Days and darkness rolling by
And how the years betray us
And our dreams escape us
The world I wanted turned to night
Love became a shadow
Where did the time go?
Someone said this is all part of the plan
But I don't understand
Now that I walk through the valley of death
You're the light to guide me
When I'm lost and can't see
I'm holding on with all the strength I can
Say you won't forget me
'Cause sometimes I don't believe
That I am not alone in the valley of death
Love and laughter turn to tears
What will come tomorrow?
Is it joy or sorrow?
Memories fading through the years
Now I've got some smile lines
We've had some good times
I can't help wondering how much time is left
'Cause I'm not ready yet
Now that I walk through the valley of death
You're the light to guide me
When I'm lost and can't see
I'm holding on with all the strength I can
Say you won't forget me
'Cause sometimes I don't believe
That I am not alone in the valley of death
When I can't carry on
Enter into the unknown
When I'm with you where I belong
When the night's too hard to take
And the starlight starts to fade
Come and find me, I need to be saved
Before it's too late
Now that I walk through the valley of death
You're the light to guide me
When I'm lost and can't see
I'm holding on with all the strength I can
Say you won't forget me
'Cause sometimes I don't believe (I don't believe)
Now that I walk through the valley of death (through the valley of death)
You're the light to guide me (to guide me)
When I'm lost and can't see (I can't see)
I'm holding on with all the strength I can (with the strength that I can)
Say you won't forget me (forget me)
'Cause sometimes I don't believe (I don't believe)
That I am not alone (I am not alone)
That I am not alone (I am not alone)
That I am not alone
In the valley of death
You can listen to the track on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6yPfhJH9EjrJZMCevkN7a9
Here is a link to the video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiffTAkQAPI
Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists