| “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” |
| —Psalm 68:19 |
| “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” |
| —Galatians 6:2 |
Did you ever stop to think what your life would be like without bridges? People who live near rivers, or even swamp land, would have a nearly impossible time getting to work, or to common shopping areas, without the bridges that span the water. We can all be grateful for the continual burdens that bridges carry to allow us ease in our daily lives.
Have you ever been a bridge for another person? As such, you became their help in traversing a tough spot in life, or helped them move on to the other side of a difficulty. I can’t help but think of the Paul Simon lyrics from a song 1 on the 1970 Simon & Garfunkel album, Bridge Over Troubled Water:
When you’re weary, feeling small.
When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all.
I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough,
And friends just can’t be found.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.
Certainly, we followers of Jesus should act as a willing bridge for those who need us to help carry them to wholeness. After all, we have the example of a God who bears us through this life, and of a Savior who bridged the gap on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
Sometimes it even becomes necessary to act as a covered bridge for others: protecting them from more winds of adversity and from the cruel and bitter sting of sin and shame. Such people need the hospitality and healing of a safe and guarded place. And from time to time, God calls us to offer this solace to His hurting children. As Jesus told us in John 15:13:
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
The next time you drive over an expansive bridge, or see a covered bridge, remind yourself that, just as we sometimes need bridges to arrive at our next destination, so Christ may have need for us to become a bridge for someone else on their journey through life.
| 1 Simon, Paul. “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” New York: Sony Music Publishing LLC, 1970. Citation of Copyrighted material is made on this blog post strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder. |
