Life is like a puzzle, it is beautiful to look at when it is all completed however putting it all together is another task completely! God does not hand to us every piece of the puzzle we need to complete the situation we are in. He lovingly hands out one piece to us at a time, we however, always want God to give us a bunch of pieces – if not all of them at once. We think if we have all of the answers to our puzzle in our hands we could figure it out and complete the puzzle faster. But God in His all knowing and loving kindness does not give us every piece because – well let’s face it – we would mess it up! We often want to know all the answers up front, before we start out, but that my friend is not faith! That is not trusting in our Heavenly Father.
He hands us one piece of the puzzle at a time, allowing us to find where and how it fits. All the while He is working in us. He is teaching us, He is pulling traits out of us He does not want there. He is strengthening us to be the best He created us to be. Then after that piece of the puzzle is snugly fitted in the correct place, He hands us the next piece, then the next, until the beautiful picture is complete!
We need to remember we cannot take more than one piece at a time. If He was to give it to us before it was time we would mess it up. We would try and make pieces fit together that were not made to fit together! We would rationalize this or that, all the while messing up the perfect plan God already has laid out for us! Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
His puzzle is perfect for our lives. His puzzle brings prosperity to us. His puzzle brings hope to us and does not bring us harm. The Message Bible tells us “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” I like that! The future I hope for! What are you hoping for in your future? Whatever it is God has the puzzle already worked out for you and He is handing you one piece at a time!
by Sandra Hershey
