When I was a kid I remember my
mother inviting me to help her with a jigsaw puzzle. I didn’t know any better so I said yes . . . it seemed like
fun to her so, why not?
However, I wanted the picture to
materialize in rapid fashion. The picture on the box was intriguing so I wanted
to see it in real life . . . and my patience was very short. I wanted to pick up a piece and presto,
chango, place it in exactly the right spot.
After trying several pieces without
success I found a piece that was a close fit and did my best to make it
fit. I pushed and squeezed and
distorted it and finally declared to my mom that I got one to fit. I was so proud of my abilities and the
way I’d quickly mastered jigsaw puzzling. . .until . . . my mom pointed out
that the colors and patterns and
lines didn’t really fit with one
another, let alone the shapes, I needed to remove it, back up, and keep trying
until there was a true and accurate fit.
I didn’t want to hear it!!
I didn’t want to hear it!!
Getting a clear picture of God is
much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with an infinite number of
pieces. For the picture to be
accurate, each piece must fit perfectly with the other ones. No forcing or twisting or settling for
an imperfect fit.
The more people working together on the puzzle the quicker it seems to take shape and the more fun the process is, but if one person is forcing pieces that don’t fit, the rest of the group can’t pretend that it does fit. It’s time to back up and wait until the right piece comes into focus.
The more people working together on the puzzle the quicker it seems to take shape and the more fun the process is, but if one person is forcing pieces that don’t fit, the rest of the group can’t pretend that it does fit. It’s time to back up and wait until the right piece comes into focus.
God is revealing to me the need to
back up and reevaluate some pieces of my theological puzzle I thought were
perfect fits but, in fact, had been forced together by me or others. I am so amazed by God’s patience with
me . . . just like my mom, He just says, remove the wrong pieces, keep asking,
keep seeking, keep knocking and the right pieces will pop out. You’ll know when the piece is
the right one.
I am totally fine with all the
pieces that I haven’t fit together yet because I know the right picture will
grow in God’s timing and I trust Him.
It’s becoming a much more beautiful picture too.
It’s becoming a much more beautiful picture too.
