Like A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

In 1970, an iconic song would be released and leave its mark as one of the greatest hits of all-time. Simon and Garfunkel’s Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters has remained a legendary song that has been used in a variety of ways. In fact, over 50 artists have covered it since its release including, Elvis and Johnny Cash. Its chorus echoes in the minds of people and when it’s played, so many can repeat it word for word. These types of songs don’t happen all the time but when they do, movies, TV shows, live performances and more use them over and over again. They become a part of our culture as we think of them synonymous with something bigger than the song itself.

But as for me, the title itself gives me a picture that relays God’s truth.

All of us have experienced the troubled waters of life and it’s not pleasant. The after effects vary but when troubled waters smack our hearts, we feel it and know its sting. These troubled waters show up as but not limited to, divorce, addiction, self-hate, sickness, strife, anger, bitterness, lust, envy, religion, division, loss, and failure. Have you been there? If you’re alive, I say you have because life doesn’t discriminate but Jesus doesn’t either and that’s good news.

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus walked on troubled waters and did miracles through the storm.

Some of His greatest moments came through troubled waters. Peter walked on troubles waters, Jesus calmed troubled waters, Jesus revealed Himself through troubled waters and Jesus brought His disciples safely to shore, through troubled waters. These examples reveal something about Jesus!

He’s more than a water walker, He’s the bridge over troubled waters!

There’s no storm that slows Him down or that hinders His power. He’s the King of Kings and His name is above any other name. Because of this, He is the bridge over troubled waters. With Him, all things work for our good, including troubled waters.

Are you in troubled waters today?

Jesus knows you and He’s reaching to pull you up onto the bridge of who He is, so you find rest and peace in your life.

Check out this promise found in Isaiah 41:10,

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

Notice the first command of this verse, Don’t be afraid. This speaks to troubled waters because for most of us, we’re afraid when trouble comes. Fear loves opportunities to torment us, hinder us and hurt our minds. It loves to put us in a prison of limitation especially when troubled waters are raging against us. But, we know that with Jesus, nothing is impossible. The verse says, “don’t be discouraged, I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

I love that His right hand holds us up. I like to picture Jesus? hand reaching down and lifting us up and out of the troubled waters of life and then, He sets us on the bridge of safety. You see, He not only pulls us out of the troubled waters, He also sets us in a safe place protected from harm. This is the God we serve and there’s nothing that can separate you from His love.

Whatever you’re facing today, Jesus is enough.?

His power is unlimited and when you stand on His bridge, you will not be shaken and you will not be moved. The God who created you, is the God who keeps you. The God who saved you, is the God who will complete you. These truths fortify who we are and who we have in our lives. After all, this is not a theory or a mind trick to get us through life. No, this is truth and it’s Jesus. He is reality and He is real for you and for me.

Therefore, when He’s invited into our lives, He will lift us out of the troubled waters and He will set us on his bridge, filled with purpose and promise.

No matter where you are, God is with you. His bridge is safest place to be, so stay put and refuse to move.

Meaning, protect your connection to God by being a part of a local church, read the bible every day, pray daily, be a part of a group with others and choose to give your all to Jesus. These are a few practical things we can do to stay on the bridge. This is big because our tendency is to move away from the bridge and venture out to the waters of temptation; however, over and over again these waters turn on us and become trouble for our lives.

Other times, these trouble waters looking for us and we’re nowhere close to them, but either way, these practical steps are needed to stay planted on the bridge over troubled waters.

I pray you let Jesus pull you up. I pray you let Jesus move in your life and I pray you stay sure-footed on the bridge over troubled waters. This is where we are called to be and this is where we find His life and His life more abundantly.

Have a great week and believe, that the best is yet to come,

PD