Making Sense of the Puzzle

Random puzzle pieces.
 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.”

Hebrews 11:1-2


My wife is a “puzzler.” During the months of sheltering in, she must have put together at least a half-dozen jigsaw puzzles.  Some were relatively easy, but others were real toughies.

Fortunately, she was able to look at the box and see the big picture.  This gave her the confidence that eventually, all the random pieces would come together. That everything would ultimately interlock in a way that made sense.

And though there were some frustrating days when it seemed like she was making little progress, in the end, everything did in fact come together.  The puzzle became a picture.

Faith in the Puzzle-maker

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews defines believing that everything will eventually come together as “faith.” “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Faith is the settled conviction that keeps believing all the confusing pieces of life are going to somehow make sense.  It’s believing that God has the big picture in mind…that there’s a divine purpose being worked out…even when the present moment is bewildering.


Faith is the settled conviction that keeps believing all the confusing pieces of life are going to somehow make sense.


The Apostle Paul picks up on this theme in one of the most glorious promises found in Scripture.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)

In this particular case, I prefer the translation offered by the New American Standard version.  It offers a key word that the NIV omits. Take a look.

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

Do you see the word?  Read the verse again…slowly. Note the word “causes.”

Rather than it appearing as if God is simply handed circumstances He needs to somehow work into good, it implies that God actually is sovereignly in control of those circumstances.

Going back to our puzzle analogy, it’s not that He merely has the big picture in mind. Rather, each piece has its place.  And once it interlocks with other pieces, what appeared to be confusing was in fact purposeful.


The Puzzle Pieces of Your Life

In looking at our country’s current circumstances, things look so confusing, don’t they?  It appears that there is no master plan, no big picture. 

And, to be sure, when considering each perplexing piece – the pandemic, the economy, the racial tension, the political posturing – a person might be tempted to throw up their hands in dismay.

But this is where faith comes in – the assurance that even though we can’t see things clearly now, in the end, it will all come together.  The confidence that all of these perplexing pieces will work out for good.

However, this isn’t simply true on a macro scale – it’s true on a micro scale.  It not only relates to the puzzle of our country – it relates to the puzzle of your life.

Your family…your finances…your future. 

In the midst of the confusion that you’re facing personally, there is one who is in total control.  He has the big picture in mind for you.  He is causing all of the pieces, even the ones that don’t seem to make sense, to come together for good.


In the midst of the confusion that you’re facing personally, there is one who is in total control. He has the big picture in mind for you. He is causing all of the pieces, even the ones that don’t seem to make sense, to come together for good.


And, in the end, the perplexing puzzle will be replaced by a glorious picture.


PRAYER

Lord, at times life is so puzzling.  I look at what’s going on around me and it seems to make no sense. Help me to lean into my faith with a confident assurance that you are in control.  Remind me that, in the end, it will all work out in such a way that I will shake my head in awe at your plan and purposes.


 
 
 

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