Walking Across a Bridge

Singapore may not have as many bridges as some other countries, but the bridges we do have are more than just practical structures that help us get from one place to another. They cross rivers, waterways, roads and gaps, often providing a shorter and more convenient way forward. Without them, a journey that should take only a few minutes might require a much longer detour.

Yet some of our bridges have become much more than functional structures. They have distinctive designs and names that have become part of Singapore’s identity, like the elegant Helix Bridge, the undulating Henderson Waves, and the colourful Alkaff Bridge, to name just a few. Our older bridges, such as Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge, and Elgin Bridge, also remind us of the generations that came before us and the many journeys that have taken place across them.

There is something rather beautiful about walking across a bridge. We leave one side behind and gradually make our way towards another. Perhaps that is why a bridge can be such a meaningful picture for a new beginning.

As we approach another year, we too stand at a kind of bridge. Behind us lies everything we have experienced, the joys and disappointments, achievements and regrets, answered prayers and unanswered questions. We cannot go back and change what has already happened. Ahead of us lies another year, another season, and another part of our journey that we cannot yet see.

Sometimes we may wonder what awaits us on the other side.

Will the coming year bring happiness or challenges? Will our plans succeed? Will there be changes we did not expect? Will our families remain well? Will new opportunities appear? There are many questions, but we do not need to know all the answers before we take the first step.

We simply need to know whom we are trusting.

Imagine God building a bridge before us where there appears to be no way forward. He may open a door we never expected, provide someone at just the right moment, give us wisdom for a difficult decision, or strengthen us when we feel unable to continue. Sometimes He changes our circumstances; at other times, He changes us so that we are able to walk through those circumstances with greater faith.

Looking back, many of us can probably identify moments when we thought there was no way forward, yet somehow God made a way. What seemed like a dead end eventually became a new direction. What appeared to be a closed door led us towards another opportunity. A difficult season strengthened us in ways we could not appreciate at the time.

That is the grace of God. He does not always show us the entire bridge; He often gives us enough light to take the next step.

And perhaps there is another beautiful thought. A bridge is not built only for the person who designs it. Once completed, it becomes useful to countless others. People we may never meet will cross it because someone took the time and effort to build a way for them.

In much the same way, God can use our lives to become bridges for others.

Perhaps the difficult experiences we have gone through can help someone who is now facing a similar struggle. The wisdom we have gained through the years can encourage a younger person. A kind word can help someone take another step. A listening ear can connect a lonely heart to hope. A helping hand can make someone’s difficult journey a little easier.

We have received so much grace from God. Now He invites us to allow that grace to flow through us.

As we step into a new year, may we not only ask, “Lord, what do You have planned for me?” but also, “Lord, how can You use me to bless someone else?” Perhaps He wants us to be a bridge between generations, a bridge between people who are struggling to understand one another, or simply a bridge that helps someone move from discouragement towards hope.

As we look towards a new year, we may not know what is waiting on the other side. But we can walk forward with confidence not because we know the future, but because we know the One who holds the future.

May we trust God to build the way before us, give us courage to take each step, and wisdom to follow where He leads. And having experienced His grace, may we also become bridges of love, encouragement, kindness and hope, helping others cross their difficult places and discover that they, too, are never walking alone.

May the bridge ahead remind us that every new beginning is an invitation to trust God afresh and every blessing we have received is an opportunity to become a blessing to someone else.