God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
Psalm 18: 20-24 The Message
Do you like to do jigsaw puzzles? Some people love to put puzzles together, and are quite proficient at doing so.
Every summer at our family cabin, one table is almost always filled with a jigsaw puzzle. Various members of the family stop by, and put in a puzzle piece or two, or twenty. Gradually, the puzzle is completed. Then it is admired, and perhaps even photographed, before being put away. Then, a new puzzle takes its place on the table, and the process begins all over again.
In this translation of Psalm 18, God is likened to a puzzle master. The Lord is able to put all of the pieces of our lives together, making them complete. Our job is to lay out all of the pieces of our lives: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then we need to allow Him to transform everything for His glory.
Sometimes a piece may look like it fits in a particular place. Yet if you try it, you find it does not fit in that particular spot, and it will not work. We learn this truth through the experience of trial and error. We are the same way sometimes. When we try to do something that is not God’s plan for us, we will find it doesn’t fit well, or at all. Hopefully, before too long, we discover that is not the way we are to do things in life. Things just don't work well, if we are not following the picture God has planned out for us.
How many people feel like their lives are falling apart, and going to pieces? Yet with God in the mix, everything will fit, in His time! As the Psalmist puts it, “I feel put together.” Note that the text does not say, “I put it together by myself.” No! I say “I feel put together,” implying that the very next phrase should be, “by God.” Many Christians feel that the Lord has put their lives back together. Sometimes, more than once…
The next time you are frustrated by some messes in your life, ask yourself, “Have I given to God all of the pieces of my life?” Don’t forget to look everywhere when you feel like something is missing. Even though you may feel like you have hit rock bottom, God will still pick you up and put you where you need to be. Sometimes, we only find the missing piece when get down and look on the floor. It is only when we give God everything, that He is able to make all things new. Let go, and let God. Let go of the illusion of having to have everything together, all by yourself. Instead, let God put your life back together, in His image, for His purpose. It will be a beautiful picture! We may be puzzled by how all of the pieces fit together, but God never is! Hallelujah!
Prayer
Lord,
We thank you for knowing every piece of our lives, like you know the number of hairs upon our heads. Help us to give you every corner of our lives, and every broken piece. Give us the patience to work through difficult times, knowing that You are our ever-present help and comfort. Help us to share our journey with others, allowing them to help us along the way. When we feel like we are falling apart, we are grateful that you are still there to help put us together. We pray this prayer in Your most trusted name. Amen
