Our lives are like intricate jigsaw puzzles that create a masterwork when we are completely put together. When we are whole and complete, each one of us is a unique portrait of Jesus. The style of each portrait is as unique as we are as individuals. The goal of our lives is to become complete in Christ. This results in our soul being satisfied in Jesus no matter what comes our way.
Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Each piece of our puzzle gets crafted along the way of our lives. Many pieces are crafted out of suffering, some are crafted out of friendships, others are crafted out of Bible study, others are crafted out of prayer, while others are crafted out of good works, still others are actually crafted from our own mistakes. God is constantly shaping and bringing into our lives the next piece of the puzzle that fits perfectly in place at the right time in our lives.
Romans 8:2828 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
When we refuse to sign on to this process, we delay the next piece of the puzzle being crafted and laid into place. We really delay the process when we think we know better than God which piece should be fit into place next. Only God can see the big picture that our lives are making and the right timing of each piece being fitted into our lives.
We look at what others have and what we think their lives are like and want their puzzle pieces in order to complete our puzzle. All the while God is waiting on us to allow Him to continue the work He started.
We may think we need a particular relationship to complete us but it would actually delay our development if brought into place too early. It could even be the wrong puzzle piece of a relationship that we try to force into a particular void of our puzzle as we keep trying to hammer it into place even though it just will not fit. We do it frequently with people but we do it in other areas as well.
We also take legitimate puzzle pieces and try to force them into voids that are meant to be filled by another piece. Mothers cram children into empty spaces that should be filled with their spouse. Husbands cram work into voids meant to be filled with family and the list goes on.
We just can’t trust God enough with the details of our lives in order to let Him do His work and create us whole in Jesus. This all sounds so simple and easy when we discuss it in theory but let it get into the details of our lives and our frustration and pain clouds our thinking. God knows what we need at the time we need it.
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
We have to get to a place where we abandon control and pursue God with our whole being, trusting that He is the only one wise enough to see the big picture and put the puzzle pieces of our lives together that make us complete in Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.