05/12/2024
All trouble in our lives is under Devine control, and that was the title of the devotional message I read this morning. The author went on to say that "Trouble is neither above nor beyond His control. It is not independent of God." This is the deeper meaning his opening scripture. You see, God is able to take any adverse situation in our lives and either solve it as a problem or reform it entirely to work His will for us. So, he used one of the most quoted verses in the bible to make his point and reassure us...
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 KJV
As I was preparing to write this morning a song came to mind. I am 72 years old and to those of my generation the song "Bridge over Troubled Water" is intimately familiar. It has been sung (covered) by many artists, but was written by Paul Simon and originally released by Simon and Garfunkel. It is a song about Trouble and how to overcome it, and was written in a time of drugs and the hippie movement. Due to the drug use that was such a part of that culture, a rumor arose that this song was about using heroin... but that couldn't have been further from the truth. Simon responded to an interviewer that the song was a hymn and revealed the story behind its inspiration in this way:
"I have no idea where it came from. It came all of the sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, 'This is considerably better than I usually write."
This was quite a revelation for a young Jewish songwriter, but an even more startling revelation came when he told the interviewer that he was writing under the influence of the Christian Gospel group "The Swan Silvertones" who he was listening to at the time. Listen to Simon’s lyrics...
"When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
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"
Does this sound familiar to you as a Christian? God truly has trouble in his hands and that applies to song lyrics written to comfort people in trouble as well. He can reshape them to serve His purpose and work His will. How many people have received comfort from these words that Paul Simon pinned?
God takes our troubles when we ask Him to intercede for us, sometimes He solves our problem, at other times He leads us to a solution, but occasionally he reworks all of the events surrounding us to use that trouble as a catalyst for changing our lives into something wonderful. So, by writing this song, a young Jewish poet and songwriter penned one of the most beautiful hymns of my generation... And he didn't see it coming. Since its inception people around the world have found comfort in this song.
This morning we should ask God to take our problems and then let go of them. We should be confident that regardless of His method our trouble will be for our good. Jesus is our bridge over troubled water... He comforts us and will eventually stand with us before the throne of God... how can we possible doubt his ability to intercede for us in our day to day problems? How can we not cross that bridge?
"I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around"
Did Paul Simon understand the true meaning of these words in his second verse when they came suddenly to him? Do you understand them now? I pray that you do.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for taking our troubles into your hands and solving them for us. Thank you Lord for those you leave with us as you did with the Apostle Paul, and then use them to reshape our lives in a way that transforms us into more righteous and holy people; those who have come to know you better. Thank you Holy Father for coming to us when we least expect it to give us something wonderful. Thank you for using every resource at your disposal Father whether that be an unbeliever, an enemy, or a young Jewish poet, to tell us and the world once again of Jesus. Help us to understand what is happening when you visit us in this way Father, and open our hearts, minds, and souls, to receive it with a fullness of faith, and belief in your presence. Help us to accept your mercy and grace as you solve our problems, and to see your larger will for us when you choose to leave certain troubles, and use them to transform us. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you who, from the mouths of babes and the unknowing, present us with the truth of your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for Paul Simon and for working in him and his life to give us this wonderful two verse hymn to comfort us, and for joining it with a third verse about his girlfriend’s greying hair to appease those in charge of producing this song so that it would be cut and delivered to the world. You work all things together for good Abba, and we praise, worship, honor, and adore you for it. We look at the troubles in our lives today and wonder how you will answer our prayers as we ask for your relief. We wonder in the quiet times, and between our tears, if there is yet another Paul Simon receiving a Word from you at this very moment that is meant to be delivered to us, or whether we will be like the Apostle Paul, and carry our trouble, our thorns, as reminders to us of some truth you are delivering to us. Reveal your goodness Father, tell us yet again of your Son Jesus, and how He is interceding for us before you, and is coming again. Take the troubles of this world and use them Father to glorify you, and to lead us to a deeper faith… a faith that will make us worthy through the blood of Jesus, and give us our much sought after relief; the ultimate peace, joy, and comfort in you for all eternity.
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 KJV
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Listen to the song Bridge over Troubled Water:
https://youtu.be/4G-YQA_bsOU?si=KqyetRHJO64hyKN
Rich Forbes