Puzzles

by Michelle McKeel

My family goes through these phases. We get out one puzzle and work on it. After a couple days we finish it… fighting over the last piece of course. Then we get another one out and work on that… and eventually finish it. After about five puzzles mom gets frustrated with all the pieces and puzzles everywhere and the phase ends. About 18 months later it's repeated. The thing is - I LOVE puzzles. I love the challenge but also knowing that somewhere in the mass of 999 weird shaped pieces in front of me is a match to that one I'm holding. Out of those 999 there is a match! Somewhere! I don't know what it looks like… I have no clue what it will lead to. I just have to keep looking and trying piece, after piece, after piece, and eventually with enough patience and perseverance I'll find it.

Then as it starts coming together I can start seeing the whole picture…. It starts matching the box top! Which btw, is the most important part of the puzzle. The cheat sheet so to speak. But as your putting it together you can't see what it's going to be like… you have to wait. You don't have the big picture and if it weren't for that picture on the lid you'd be lost.

God holds that box top. He knows the whole picture. He can see far into the future and beyond your little puzzle of a life. He can see your puzzle completed, he even knows the steps. He knows when you will try mashing part of your puzzle into another piece and the pain it will cause you in the long run. He can see the struggle and you accepting part of the piece that will bring the bigger picture into focus. He sees… and He knows, and He understands. He doesn't sit there with the box top in His hands watching you… He's there helping you. Lifting you up when you cannot stand. Giving you the strength to yield and accept. Encouraging you along the way… and receiving the glory for your life. You can't see the big picture. You might only see what is not fair, what you don't understand, what you don't like, what hurts, and what doesn't make sense… as you see all that see one more thing. A box top with a question mark on it. There are two puzzles… one with pieces missing, in the wrong places, and faded. Or one complete and whole. Which puzzle are you? How much do you trust the person who holds the box top?