Building Bridges

In the poem “The Bridge Builder,” author Will Allen Dromgoole illustrates the impact one generation’s actions can have on the next. The touching narrative describes a conversation between a young sojourner and an elderly man who is building a bridge. The sojourner inquires why the builder is spending time on such a task when he will never pass that way again. The old man replies, “There followeth after me today a youth, whose feet must pass this way. ... Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

Prayer is like the bridge this old man was crafting, for through our petitions we create a spiritual link from the present to the future, hoping to ease life’s burdens and to obtain God’s guidance. When we pray, we build for the days ahead and stand in the gap for those who will follow. Our prayers make a difference now and for eternity; this is why it is imperative that we follow Jesus’ instructions to “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

I have believed in the power and importance of prayer since becoming a Christian as a young child. Someone once stated, “The only way to pray is to pray, and the way to pray well is to pray much.” I wholeheartedly agree. When I was 8, I remember kneeling beside my bed to pray for my family, and later, I asked the Lord to provide me with a Christian husband. God answered those oft-repeated prayers beyond my expectations. He has bestowed tremendous blessings on Jim and me through our 40 wonderful years of marriage.

There have been times, however, when the answers I’ve sought in prayer have not been so forthcoming. Perhaps you’ve experienced the same. When this happens, it is not easy to persevere in prayer. With no hint of resolution or remedy for the problems plaguing us, even after long, sometimes decades-spanning periods of prayer, our resolve can weaken and discouragement sets in. Whether we become disillusioned by a prodigal child, continuing evidence of our culture’s moral decline, tragic loss or any number of painful trials, our faith may falter and our confidence be shaken. Yet, despite the dismay we might feel, if we reflect on God’s sovereignty and entrust ourselves to His plans, we can experience hope.

When Jim and I were in Italy recently, we were amazed by the striking architecture created centuries ago by artisans who were obviously motivated by the possibility of touching future generations. These men devoted themselves to mammoth projects, knowing that they would never see the fruition of their efforts. In a similar way, we are called to prayer. As God works out His grand design for creation, He asks that we join in the ultimate bridge-building mission — for families, communities and nations. It is up to us to pause in the midst of our busy lives and meet Him in prayer. He is waiting.

Besides individual prayer, we must involve ourselves in corporate prayer. There is no better way to illuminate our communities with Christ’s love than to come together in prayer. As chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, it has been an honor each year to call Americans to prayer on the first Thursday of May. More than 40,000 volunteers share our commitment to encourage people to pray for their families, friends, leaders and nation. These volunteers work diligently to organize events attended by millions of citizens.

On May 3 we will celebrate the 50th National Day of Prayer, which was signed into law by President Harry Truman. This year’s theme is “One Nation Under God,” based on Psalms 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” I hope we can count on you to join us May 3 and throughout the months ahead. Together we can build a bridge of faith that spans from sea to shining sea, and people will rejoice for generations over what has been built through prayer.