Have you ever tackled a jigsaw puzzle? At first, a pile of scattered, oddly shaped pieces can feel overwhelming. Yet with patience and focus, a picture takes shape. Here are a few life parallels for a believer.
1. Every Piece Has a Place
Just as each puzzle piece fits perfectly somewhere, each believer has a unique part to play in the body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Even when a piece seems insignificant or strangely shaped, it’s still essential to the whole—just like you.
2. Start With the Border
Starting with the puzzle’s border pieces provides needed structure for all the other pieces. Similarly, we find a solid framework on which to build our lives through reading His Word, knowing His true nature, and understanding our New Covenant, with all Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.
3. Slowing Down Helps
Puzzles require focus—a quality often missing from fast-paced, distracted lives. As we quiet ourselves and look carefully, we can make out patterns, and see where something fits. Spiritually, slowing down and focusing on God’s Word allows us to better perceive what is happening in our lives and to hear His voice. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
4. God Sees the Full Picture
We typically rely on the on the puzzle box’s picture for guidance in finding where a piece fits. But in life, we often can’t tell how things will come together. Yet we know God’s vantage point encompasses all, from beginning to end. Because He is good and is able to work all things together for our good, we can trust Him for positive outcomes, even when we or others make mistakes. (Romans 8:28)
5. Mistakes Are Part of the Process
We all try pieces that don’t fit. That’s okay. You don’t give up and throw away the puzzle in disgust, do you? God’s grace is big enough to embrace our trial and error as we attempt to understand and follow His will. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Take advantage of your mistakes to become more dependent on Him.
6. Don’t Force Anything
Trying to force pieces into place never brings success. The same is true in our walk with Jesus. We accomplish nothing through fleshly willfulness. Things only fall into their proper place when we humbly submit to Him and are motivated by love. Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)
7. Rest Brings Renewal
Sometimes we need time away from a puzzle instead of dogged persistence when we’re getting tired and grouchy. Similarly, rest restores our spiritual perspective and we can come back with a new set of eyes. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
As you go through your day, remember: your life is a masterpiece in progress. Unlike some second-hand puzzles we’ve had that were missing pieces, God leaves nothing out; He does all things well. We can rest carefree, entrusting ourselves to our loving and faithful Creator, allowing His Spirit to lead us.
Where do you need to trust God in fitting the pieces together, even when you can’t see the full picture?
