Do You Have a Bridge to Cross?

A friend from my hometown posted a photo of an old local bridge. It reminded me that I have had my moments with bridges. There’s the old river bridge outside Murfreesboro that had no rails. I remember asking Danny to stop and let me walk over that one. The old grated bridge over the Mississippi River. We went over that one on the motorcycle.  There’s also a 7 Bridges Road back home that had old wooden bridges, 7 of them, to ride over. There are low water bridges, draw bridges and foot bridges.

Some bridges are long and rickety, nearly as old as Methuselah. Others are built tall so that ships can go under them. Whatever kind of bridge there is, it usually must be crossed to get where you need to go.

There are bridges that cannot be avoided. Then there are bridges that must not be avoided.

Danny has never been much to fear anything. He likes bridges. He likes high bridges. He likes to look over the sights while riding on high bridges. He especially loves riding the motorcycle on bridges! For the most part I’ve just looked straight ahead and held on tightly, hoping I live through it.  I’ve always been thankful to have my fearless husband take me places because then, even though I feared it, I was able to experience it.

There are lots of different bridges in life.  Some of them are low water bridges. They must be crossed even if the water seems it will overtake you.  It won’t.  There are the high suspension bridges. They make your ears pop and your heart pound, but they will get you over things that cannot be scaled otherwise. There are the rickety bridges, the kind that seem to move with every step. There’s no way to go but one step at a time. They’ll hold, but you don’t know it till you get over it.

God speaks. There are lots of bridges in life. There’s the bridge from fear to faith. It’s only a step and you’ll be carried over by the Lord Himself. But you and I must take that first step. There’s the bridge from sorrow to joy. It’s a high one, long and tall, appearing to disappear in the clouds of your life. Other bridges may include life to death, but for the believer this bridge is the best one for beyond it lies reward and worship and the presence of God forever. Other bridges must be crossed individually: remorse, guilt, anger, depression, rejection. Even the bridge to purpose and to fulfillment must be crossed.  Each of these bridges looks too rickety, too dangerous and just fearful, but must be crossed to the other side so they can be replaced with God’s best.

Every bridge gets you somewhere. It’s meant to be there so that you can go from the past to the future, the mundane to the exciting, and the good to the best.  Every bridge in life takes you over the things that tend to hold you back, trip you up and keep you at the shore.  

I have a bridge to cross and I would bet you do too. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, what it is made of or how long, high or wide it is – it’s time to cross. Someone may have chosen that bridge for you but ultimately God is the only One Who decides what bridges you and I must cross.  It’s time to trust Him. 

God knows you did not choose the bridge that you must cross but you do choose the Savior, who guides every single step of your life. No other person on earth has the power or the will to take you to the other side. And even when it’s meant for evil or hurt or is just plain wrong, you will get over it. And when you do, you will dance on the other shore for you will see God’s will continuing, growing, blessing and guiding all the days of your life!

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and let Him take you by the hand. Not one single bridge has to be crossed by yourself – He is with you!  He is beckoning you! He is showing you that what appears to be rickety, hard, high and scary is just a walk to a better future, a calmer life, His perfect will!  Give that bridge you are about to cross to Him. He will make it stronger, more secure and safe as you walk together into the future of good things He has planned for you!

Trust Him today, for what looks like the end is just the beginning of the rest of your life and that life is secure for God loves you and He’s for you and that’s always going to make the way for you!

Deuteronomy 31:8  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Psalm 78:72 He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.

Exodus 33:14 And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." (NAS)