Pastor Dr. Denise Gillings-Blair | Hope Redemption Worship Center | Sunday, Dec 28, 2025

Pastor Dr. Denise Blair opened her message with humility and faith, asking the church to pray for her strength and for God’s Spirit to lead every word spoken. She prayed that the message—though brief—would touch hearts and that no one would leave the sanctuary the same way they came.

She then shared a personal testimony from earlier in the week. On Tuesday, while at work, she found herself overwhelmed and crying out to God. In that moment, she heard the Lord speak clearly: “I will be your bridge over troubled waters.” Pastor Denise explained that God has a word for all of us, but many times we miss it because we’re caught up in everything around us and not listening closely.

She reminded the congregation that life has a way of placing us in “troubled waters.” For some, those waters come from grief, illness, betrayal, family problems, broken relationships, financial storms, job loss, immigration issues, depression, anxiety, or housing instability. She emphasized that everyone’s storm is different—and sometimes the water is so deep it feels like you’re drowning.

But the good news is this: God provides a bridge. Pastor Denise said God showed her she doesn’t have to be in the water because there is a bridge over it. And when you cross over by the bridge, your feet don’t even have to get wet. She declared that even if we feel we cannot survive what we’re facing, Jesus Christ is our protector—our life jacket—and we will not drown.

Using Isaiah 43:2, she reminded the church that the Bible doesn’t say if we go through storms, but when: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Storms are part of human experience—even for believers. Serving God does not remove storms, but it does assure us we are not alone in them.

She also taught that peace is not the absence of trouble—peace is the presence of Christ in the middle of the storm. And finally, she left the church with a powerful challenge: the bridge can only help you if you walk on it. Don’t stay stuck at the edge in fear, pain, or disappointment. Step on the bridge in faith, and cross over.

Jesus Christ is your bridge over troubled waters.