Growing up as a child, I loved listening to stories. Some made me laugh, some made me think, and some made me very cautious about how I lived my spiritual life. Stories had a way of pulling me closer to God, stirring in me the desire to know Him more. In our innocence as children, we often long for God with a pure heart, though as adults, we pursue Him with more maturity and understanding.
When I was a young boy, I was never satisfied with just the stories I heard. My heart longed for more. So I began to read books, searching for lessons that would inspire me and help me understand God better. One day, I came across a story that I still remember vividly, and it continues to make me reflect on my walk with God even today.
The story was about a bridge. It was not just an ordinary bridge—it was built with great effort, many years of construction, and at a high cost. Workers gave their time and strength, and finally, after years of dedication, the bridge stood tall and strong. When it was inaugurated, people celebrated. The bridge was so strong that it could hold thousands of people and a great number of vehicles at one time. It became a symbol of strength and pride.
Years passed. New generations came, technology advanced, and life grew busier. The bridge continued to serve faithfully. But then came storms. Strong winds, floods, and the passing of time began to test its strength. One day, after a heavy storm, a small crack appeared in the wall of the bridge. At first, it was tiny—barely noticeable. People ignored it, thinking it was nothing to worry about.
One day, a bird dropped a seed into that crack. Over time, with the right conditions of rain and sunlight, the seed sprouted into a plant. People saw it but ignored it. After all, it looked harmless. But the plant kept growing, and its roots dug deeper into the walls of the bridge. Slowly, it weakened the very foundation that once held so firm. Years later, when the bridge was under great pressure from weight and traffic, it collapsed. In that tragedy, many lives were lost. Families were broken, children became orphans, and homes were left empty.
The bridge that once stood as a symbol of strength had been destroyed—not by a mighty storm, not by an earthquake, but by a small crack that was ignored, and a little seed that no one paid attention to.
This story made me think about my own life and my spiritual journey. Many times, we are just like that bridge. Outwardly, we may look strong. We may appear unshaken, capable of carrying responsibilities, standing tall in our faith, and managing everything that comes our way. But deep inside, there might be small cracks—tiny weaknesses or sins that we ignore.
It may be a habit we excuse. A thought we entertain. A small bitterness we refuse to forgive. At first, it looks harmless. We think, This is not a big deal. But with time, those small cracks allow sin to take root, just like the seed in the bridge. The roots go deep, and slowly, they weaken our spiritual life. One day, under the pressures of life, that little crack can grow into a collapse.
The Bible often warns us about the danger of ignoring “little sins.” In the Song of Solomon 2:15, it says, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.” Small things left unchecked can bring destruction to something beautiful.
There are many examples in the Bible of people who ignored small cracks in their lives.
Samson was strong and chosen by God, yet he entertained a weakness. His compromise with sin did not destroy him in a single day—it happened slowly, and eventually, he lost his strength and purpose.
King Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel, but his small acts of disobedience, when ignored, grew into rebellion. His heart turned away from God, and his kingdom was taken from him.
Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts tried to hide a small lie about their offering. But God saw it, and it cost them their lives.
On the other hand, Scripture also shows us the blessing of dealing with small cracks quickly. King David, though he fell into sin, did not hide his brokenness when confronted. He repented before God, and his humility brought restoration.
So how do we guard our lives against these cracks? The Bible gives us simple but powerful ways:
Examine Yourself Regularly – 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” Just like engineers inspect a bridge, we need to check our hearts regularly before God.
Confess and Repent Quickly – Don’t ignore the small sins. Bring them before God. 1 John 1:9 promises us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Stay in Fellowship with God’s Word – God’s Word is like a lamp that shows us where the cracks are. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Surround Yourself with Believers – Sometimes others can see what we don’t. Having godly friends who lovingly correct us can keep us from falling.
Think again of the bridge. It did not fall because it was weak in the beginning—it fell because the small crack was ignored. In the same way, God does not expect us to be perfect from the start, but He calls us to be watchful and humble, allowing Him to heal the small cracks before they destroy us.
Life is full of storms. We cannot avoid every hardship. But if our foundation is strong in Christ, and if we allow Him to repair the cracks in our lives, then we will stand firm no matter what comes.
Let us not ignore the little things that creep into our hearts. Let us bring them before God, asking Him daily to renew us. Because when He restores us, we become stronger than before, not just for ourselves, but also for those who depend on us.
