Puzzle

There were four of us working on the Safari 100 piece puzzle. William (4), Catherine (3) and Jon (their dad) and me. We turned all the pieces face up and separated them by straight edge pieces and middle pieces. Then went to work setting up the framework with an occasional connection of two middle pieces that obviously went together. We knew it was a four foot long puzzle but had forgotten how wide it was. And sure enough as we were looking for additional border pieces we realized that we had all the pieces already in place we just needed to connect them on the sides to complete the frame. It was a long skinny puzzle. And upon that realization, and a picture on the box for reference, the middle pieces began to come together and eventually the picture in pieces was complete.

Ever feel like your life is a great big puzzle with random pieces scattered about? It is strange to think that God sees our big picture. And the framework of our lives has already been designated. Our sex was established, our parents were established, our looks were established, our height, our gifts, our personalities, all have been hooked together to frame what happens in the middle experiences of our lives. It is through prayerful wisdom and understanding that God will give us glimpses of how he connects one experience to another and brings us to where he wants us to be in spirit, mind and in service.

There are no true coincidences in our life picture. For I believe that God is the author and designer of all that happens or is allowed to happen within our framework. He does see our big picture and gradually helps us to see how the pieces begin to fit together to work into the picture that he has envisioned for each of us personally. God works in pockets...he puts one pocket of pieces together and may go to the other side of the board and put other pieces together. But each pocket will eventually be connected for His whole picture. We simply must trust him in his process, and know that our achievements and accomplishments and victories, one piece at a time will ultimately be the picture of Christ's success in us and through us.

If we try to force one piece to fit into another in a place where it does not belong, it leaves cracks and distorts the image that was purposely created. I watched how excited my two little ones got when they discovered two pieces that fit perfectly together. Jon and I would help a little by placing the pieces side by side, look at color coordinates, or find one part of an obvious image and look for its counterpart. It was the successful blending of parts that made the picture begin to come alive. It should be that way with us. We are to claim success when we prayerfully overcome a habit, or forgive a debtor, or find peace in chaos or joy in despair. It is these pieces of life through experiences that fit into God's way for us.

That is how God pieces our lives together. If we carefully look at the pieces that he has placed before us, we too will find how they fit together; to grow us, to bring us closer to HIm, to help us to appreciate the blessings that have brought us great joy, and the trials that have connected us one to another, and even the sorrows that have broken our hearts. Our lives are framed by God's design. Each created with purpose, personality and and a presence that fits into his overall picture for mankind.

We don't have the luxury of seeing the whole picture of our life. We can only trust that God has laid our framework, the remaining pieces are turned face up, and God, carefully and methodically is putting us together one piece at a time, for his glory. His end result, thought it may not be as we had envisioned will definitely be what he had purposed.

Dear Lord, Help me to be content with the one piece of my puzzle that you add to my life at a time, and not try to force pieces together in impatience. Let me faithfully trust you to be my overseer and direct my paths according to your purposes, and help me to see your hand in each of them. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!