Yesterday, I found myself singing the Simon and Garfunkel song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It is one of those songs that can have a unique and widespread application to the challenging situations of life. Our world has always had troubled waters, but of late, we have entered what appears to be especially troubling waters.
The waters of the world and its systems are being disturbed and it is troubling. The Lord instructed His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled when fearful events begin to transpire (John 14:1). An untroubled heart carries the spiritual blueprints and building materials required to construct a span of hope to rescue people from the overwhelming fear that is shaking the world. The blueprints and materials for this Spirit-inspired building project are comprised of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Those three elements can reach the most distant and isolated islands of fear offering people the ability to cross over the troubled waters of life to discover a place of hope in Jesus Christ.
These bridge builders have something in common. They chose to not become preoccupied with a daily diet of fear and negativity. Instead, each moment of each day they choose to look to the Lord and His redemptive plan of hope that will never fail no matter what level of trouble is taking place.
As the level of drama and danger in the world increases, there is something a follower of Christ must fight against or they will not be able to be part of the bridge construction team. Jesus said, “And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). A cold love will keep us on the other side of the troubling divide unwilling to engage the project and build the span. This kind of worker manifests a posture like that of the Lord who laid down His life to bridge the greatest divide of all.
“Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.” (Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, 1970)
A few years ago the Lord told me He has called me to be a bridge of unbelievers to the Lord. Simply a conduit of His outpouring of Love. As this world turned weird, it became so much more obvious this prophetic word from Him was reality. And now your timely word. Praise Him for confirmation.