Crossing Your Bridges

Yesterday, in order to get where I wanted to go, I had to cross a bridge. I had come this way before and knew what a “white knuckle” experience it could be. Both the bridge and the winds were high. I held my breath, put my foot to the pedal, and forged ahead . . . carefully. I felt the steering wheel bounce in my hand; heard the whizzing sound as I moved within inches of the concrete wall, a wall that only reached to the handle of my car door and seemed to climb straight up to the sky; then saw the dizzying view of the rough waters below; and finally sighed with relief as I reached the apex and began my descent to safety. 

It’s a good metaphor. How often have we had to pass through a difficult situation or circumstance in order to get where we wanted to go? And it was a “white knuckle” experience, too; one that was scary and dangerous because it could cost us something. Yet, when we persevered, pressed our foot to that pedal, we eventually reached the apex of our problem and found our selves returning to secure ground. I could name some in my own life: the loss of loved ones, the loss of a job and home. Perhaps you could name others such as the loss of a marriage to divorce or the loss of a child to drugs.

If you’re like me, you’re not fond of bridges; preferring a smooth, flat road instead, a road that is safe and predictable. But sooner or later we’re all faced with a bridge, and in order to get where we want to go, in order to get to the other side, we must cross it. The good news is not that there will never be bridges in our lives, but that we don’t have to cross them alone. We have One who can help us, who can place His hands over ours to steady the wheel.  And whether the bridge is short or long, like all bridges, it does have an apex where the problem peaks and eventually leads to some conclusion, though not always the happy ones we envision. But even here, we have One who is able to comfort and sustain us through it all.

At present, it seems so many people are crossing bridges they’ve never had to cross before. If you’re one of them you already understand that no one can make that journey for you. But be of good cheer. You don’t have to go it alone. You have One that will make it with you, for “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

Until next time,

Sylvia