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Puzzles are a great analogy for life. We get all excited when we finally find the place where each unique piece goes. We get frustrated when pieces don’t fit, or when we can’t figure it out. And when we step back to look at the big picture, we realize that each piece of the puzzle has its place and is no more important than another.
I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. They are relaxing to me. They are also a tangible reminder that while I cannot see where each piece of my life fits yet, God sees the big picture and knows that each piece will find its place, in His timing.
Sometimes I have to let a piece go and set it aside. By stepping away and coming back to it later, I can see more clearly where it should go. Oh, the applications and comparisons to many of my life struggles!
Puzzles help me put it all back in perspective because I am trusting that the person who created the puzzle designed each piece to be unique and fit in only one right place.
However, the other day, I started working on a jigsaw puzzle that was so poorly designed that I had to give up on it. A garage sale purchase, I was excited to pull the real wood pieces out of the box. The European outdoor coffeeshop scene was inviting and its vibrant colors would be fun to see come to life as the pieces connected to one another... or not.
As I started to separate the pieces, searching for edge pieces, I noticed that every single piece of the puzzle had the same shape. There were slight variations, minor height differences in the openings where the adjoining piece fit, but essentially, they were all the same. Yes, the colors were different, but with the shapes the same, pieces could interconnect that in no way belonged next to one another. What?! How was I supposed to know what piece goes where?!
Determined to not let this puzzle get the best of me, I started with the edge pieces. Even there, I proceeded with doubts about whether or not the adjoining pieces were in their correct position. If I messed up now, it would create even more problems as I tried to complete the inner sections. This puzzle was far from relaxing...
Okay, I’ll move to the pieces that have writing on them because then I will feel more assured that I have the right pieces in the right place, confirmed by the readable words. Yet, as you can see in the picture, even that presented its challenges.
Frustrated and confused, I put a few pieces together in the wrong way intentionally, snapped the picture you see with this post, and sent it to a few friends, inviting them to a laugh and to commiserate with me. Misery loves company, right? And laughter is the best therapy?
Invigorated by the laughter and commiseration, and also, not being one to give up easily, I tried a few more times to see if I could figure out a system for putting this diabolical puzzle together. Nope. No way. After finally admitting that this puzzle would be nearly impossible to ever put together, I decided it was time to let it go because
1. I didn’t have clear-enough vision to see where each piece fit nor recognize the nuances of color changes between the pieces.
2. I was not familiar enough with the scene depicted to know the section where each piece belonged.
3. While I could’ve forced things to go together in ways that physically fit, it would be completely inaccurate and would not mirror the original design of the puzzle.
Admitting defeat, I packed up the puzzle and put it back in its box. And as I did so, I remembered a few truths about God as they connect to the theme of Finding Our Function.
1. God sees the big picture and knows better than anyone where we each fit in the kingdom and what pieces of our own lives need to fall into place when, in order for us to fulfill our function in the kingdom.
2. God, our Creator, has not designed the puzzle of our lives to frustrate us, nor is He hiding the blueprints of the planned place where we each fit.
3. God’s purpose for our lives is to mirror Him, to be transformed into the image of His Son, in accordance with the fearfully and wonderfully made way He formed each of us in our mother’s womb. When we mirror Him, we can proceed with confidence, knowing our function and the place where we fit.
I pray we can each learn to trust our Creator to fulfill His ultimate design in our lives individually and as unique pieces in the puzzle of the kingdom.
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Michelle J. Goff converses with her mom, Jocelynn, about this month’s topic: “Finding Your Function.”
What is one of the biggest questions you ask yourself when trying to find your place and do your part?
I know my heart is good and devoted to God, but how do I know if I’m fulfilling my role/function in His Kingdom? It’s easy to be involved in good things, but is this the path God has in mind for me?
I think you speak for many women who have similar doubts. How do you answer those questions?
Obviously, scripture and prayer are the first best answers for discovering if I’m fulfilling my function/role in His Kingdom. In a practical sense, we can have trusted resources guide us. Through the years, I have been privileged to hear many gifted speakers, read excellent books, be guided by trusted friends, and of course be guided by God’s Spirit. Some of the things I’ve learned have become guiding principles in my life. One of those resources is Henry Blackaby’s book, Experiencing God. His premise is to look for where God is already working and join Him in that.
This means the focus is not on us but on God. Sometimes, we get a call like Abraham did. He was told to move, but was not given a complete road map. We’d like to have a road map with step by step directions. However, Jesus said, “I am the Way” (John 14:6a). He knows the Way and He is my Way. So, I should be following Him or joining Him in path where He is going or already involved in.
One specific verse I’ve come across recently is Joshua 3:4,
Then you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before.
God said this to Joshua as he was leading the Israelites after Moses’ death. God knew they’d never been this way before, so He told them to follow the Ark of the Covenant. He was the God of details knowing that they needed help. They joined Him where He was leading.
Anyone else you have learned from?
Another one of those sources was Doris Black. She encouraged us to use Psalm 25:4-5 for how to know what paths to take.
Show me Your Ways, O LORD, teach me Your Paths; guide me in Your Truth and teach me for You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.
Even though it was many years ago, I remember the three points she used as guiding principles for knowing the path to take.
1. Opportunity
2. Circumstances
3. Lines of Authority
If opportunity is not open for you then don’t force the opportunity. Check out the circumstances to see if they are a favorable match for you. Check with your lines of authority. This can be a parent, boss, spouse, elder in the church, or a trusted older person. That person knows you and can guide you with wise counsel to advise, yes or no. The yes can have wise conditions with it and the no can include reasons why this is not best.
God can speak through opportunities, circumstances, and through trusted lines of authority. It’s up to us to seek them and prayerfully use them to help us navigate the path. I have found these three points to be helpful and practical in guiding me in my day-to-day path, as well as for a big picture, down the road path.
Any final words of wisdom about finding our function?
Yes, reminding myself that He is the Potter and I am the clay is a helpful guiding principle. It’s not all up to me or even all about me. It’s all about Him and for Him. If I trust Him, keep Him as my focus, and join Him in His Work, then I can rest assured that I’m in the right path and fulfilling my function/role in His Kingdom.