A Prayer for Chances to Be a Bridge Builder
By Amanda Idleman
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Love is who God is. When we think of being loving, what comes to mind?
I suppose none of us would think of being critical, prejudiced, unforgiving, combative, overly dogmatic, and insensitive as loving, yet it is often how we approach those who look and believe differently than ourselves. In an extremely divided culture, we see people drawing strict lines all over the place about who they are willing to engage with kindly. While it’s easy to ride the wave of the culture, it’s important to remember that Jesus lived a different way.
Jesus asked us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). Jesus drew lines in the sand, when the self-righteous came to stone the adulterous. He showed those who were hungry to execute justice on their terms that we all have sinned and don’t have the right to throw stones at our neighbors (John 8:7).
Matthew 5:9 Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.” Those who make peace work to build bridges where there has been separation. Peacemaking takes radical faith in God’s sovereignty, trusting that he is our protector and that he is the ultimate judge. We don’t have to live at odds with those who feel “other” because God goes before us! We don’t have to argue our point because the Holy Spirit reveals truth in his perfect timing and way.
Being a peacemaker also means being someone willing to consider the perspective of others. We can’t dismiss the cries of brothers and sisters in Christ that name injustice and inequity just because it’s not our own experience. Peacemakers are willing to see past their own worldview to make a bridge that is safe for all who cross it. How can we make those who we come in contact with feel safe if the bridge we attempted to build feels unsafe for them? Open ears, a kind heart, and a humble Spirit make space for everyone around us to feel seen, loved, and safe.
Radical bridge building is what Jesus did. He ate with the tax collectors, healed the sinners, and spoke to the outcasts. He did not let any social, economic, racial, or religious difference stop him from engaging with someone who was open to his love. Living like Jesus means we live open to love beyond what feels reasonable. Recently, in my family's story, God called us to step out of what felt comfortable to build a bridge. Our soon-to-be-adopted daughter’s birth dad reentered her life. He came with a past that scared us; he looked different than us, spoke different languages than us, and he, in his own brokenness, hurt his daughter, the one we now share.
But God. God called us to build a bridge with this Dad, seeing not his past, but looking to the future that he is working hard to build on more solid ground. We see our differences as something to celebrate, and now he is a part of his and our daughter's lives. We get to be a part of a miracle because of this bridge of grace that we’ve built as a team. It is something so beautiful and I am so grateful that we get to share in this special relationship. When we build bridges, we have the chance to experience something new, see unity grow, peace abound, and healing arise, enriching our own lives in profound ways. Break down the walls of fear that want to keep you isolated and embrace radical grace that builds bridges.
Let’s pray:
God, we thank you that you are the original bridge builder. We were separated from you because of sin, and by your amazing grace, you sent your son to bridge the gap between us and you, our Holy and perfect God. The miracle of salvation is such a gift. Help us to follow your lead and show love even in the most tough relationships. Open our eyes to the bias we may hold that stops us from building bridges with our neighbors. Help us to have open ears to hear the struggles, needs, and desires of those around us who may have a different worldview. Let your Holy Spirit guide our words and steps when working towards peacemaking in our community. Let your will be done in us and through us. Amen.
Related Resource: 5 Things Parents Need to Tell Their Kids About War Right Now
When war dominates the headlines, parents are left asking an important question: How do we talk to our kids about it? In this episode of March or Die, Jeremy Stalnecker shares practical and biblical principles for guiding young people through confusing and frightening global events.
Drawing from his experience as a Marine who lived through the wars following 9/11, Jeremy explains why moments of global conflict can become powerful opportunities for parents to teach their children about courage, faith, and moral clarity. Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, parents can use them to help their kids understand fear, the reality of evil in the world, and the responsibility we have to stand for what is right.
This conversation explores how parents can alleviate fear, explain why conflict exists, and demonstrate a faith-filled response when the world seems chaotic. Jeremy also discusses the importance of teaching children the difference between necessary and unnecessary violence, why standing against evil matters, and how faith in God provides stability even in uncertain times. If this episode of March or Die helped your spiritual perspective, be sure to follow the show on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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