A PUZZLING PROBLEM
I have a puzzle problem. When I start one, I can't stop until it's finished. But there are two things that really frustrate me about puzzles. One, is trying to make a puzzle without seeing the box top. And two, is holding oddly shaped pieces that don't seem to fit.
Did you know you can hear God while you are doing the most random things? God said this to me about my life while I was making a puzzle: "Gayle, just because a piece doesn't fit right NOW, doesn't mean it doesn't fit."
You may need to know that, too. Some other parts have to be finished FIRST! Only when you work your way through will you eventually say, "Ah, so THAT'S where that piece goes! NOW it makes perfect sense."
I can promise, even if the puzzle came in a bag, instead of in a box with a cover, if you keep building piece by piece and section by section, the picture will eventually come into view.
How does this relate? I have felt like my life was an unmade puzzle with hundreds of seemingly unrelated pieces. I'm sure your life feels that way. God didn't give us a completed picture. Who would buy a puzzle that has already been finished? Even if you were given a hand-me-down puzzle the first thing you would do is break all the pieces apart. Of course, you would! It's a puzzle! That's the fun of it.
When God made you, He had a beautiful picture in mind, but He wanted your life to be an adventure of faith. He knows what He designed you to look like. It is amazing! Philippians 1:6 says, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." God sees the box top. He knows what He is doing. All your broken pieces will fit. Nothing about your life is a mistake. They don't fit right now because you aren't finished. Do you remember the little saying PBPGINFWMY? That certainly dates me! I imagine is from the 70's! It stands for "Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet."
I have a life-long puzzle-making friend. When we have a puzzle in front of us we can sit for hours. Sometimes we talk, and sometimes we just work on the puzzle. There is no pressure to figure out something to say. We just enjoy the project and each other's fellowship. God is that friend to you. God has given you the privilege, yes, the adventure, of putting the puzzle of your life together with Him. Like my other puzzle-making friend, I need to enjoy the project and His presence. I Corinthians 3:9 says, "We are co-laborers together with Christ."
Yes, God will many times break the pieces of your life apart. But God breaking you doesn't mean you are worthless. It means that each individual broken piece is part of a beautiful picture that is coming together into a masterpiece. Your life is a piece of art designed by God Himself.
As I continue on this journey of life, I am discovering that the parts of me that don't make sense, the parts of me I think are worthless and don't fit, are parts of me that are needed and beautiful. God knows what He is doing. And in this final part of my life, my puzzle is finally coming together. It will for you, too. If you start working with Him, instead of against Him, you will be amazed at what your box top looks like.
