.....puzzles

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

I was given a puzzle a couple of months ago from a friend of mine.  It had 1,500 pieces. Although very frustrating at times, and a real challenge, I really enjoyed the puzzle,  Each time I found a piece that fit, it was extremely rewarding.

While I was working on this puzzle, there was one piece that I was sure belonged in this particular spot. It didn't fit. but I still kept going back to it and trying to make it fit, forgetting that I had tried it already.  I guess I had my mind set on the fact that I felt it belonged there. I thought about how many times I've done that in my life. I've tried to make things happen that just weren't meant to be. I'd try over and over again, even to the point of forcing it - but it wasn't meant to be...  and nothing I did could change that.

If you do many puzzles, you'll know what it's like to spend so much time looking for one specific piece. I thought I knew what it looked like.  It seemed so obvious.. but I couldn't find it. I got so wrapped up in finding that one piece that I couldn't see beyond it. I got frustrated and decided to let it go and step away from it for a while. When I came back to it later, I found it immediately. It was right in front of me all along!!!

Life has been like that for me sometimes. I try so hard to understand why things happen the way they do. I search high and low for the answers and sometimes the answers are right in front of me. It isn't until I stop, take a step back, breathe and let it go - that the answers find me.

As I sat there looking at the pieces in this puzzle, I started thinking about the "pieces" in my life: my family, my friends, events, milestones and celebrations. There's such a mixture of good and bad, joy and tears, happiness and sorrow.  I reflected on all those pieces in my life that caused me to ask why... "Why me, God?"... "Why this?".  I suddenly realized that it was because of those pieces that other pieces were able to fall into place.

Everything in our lives happens for a reason. Each event, whether good or bad, signifies a piece of the puzzle. You take away one piece and it upsets the entire harmony of the finished product. I finally understand that even though some of the pieces in my life aren't pleasant and some of them bring me pain and heartache, without them I couldn't move on. No matter how unimportant I think they are, they bring me one step closer to wholeness in Christ.

We can't possibly look at the pieces of our lives right now and understand the important role that each one of them plays.  There are too many holes and the picture isn't clear. But I know that when my journey in this life comes to an end, and that final piece is put into place, I'm going to look back and understand. I'll no longer wonder why there was so much pain, or why certain people came and went in my life. And I'll be able to see the complete picture and the beauty that went into each piece that made it whole.

Until then, I will continue to live on in faith

   - knowing and trusting God that all the pieces that I need are there

   - realizing that it will only be a matter of time before God reveals them to me and they fall into place.    

   - remembering that God sees the big picture, and He has a plan for me, that I'm unable to see right now.

   - believing that each piece of my life, even the painful ones, have purpose and play an important role.

And when I am weak, I will seek strength through prayer. I do all this in hopes that on that glorious day, when God's masterpiece of me is finally complete, and all the pieces of "my puzzle" are in place, He will then whisper... "Well done".

-amy toohill