[tweetthis twitter_handles=”@GingHarrington” hidden_hashtags=”#identity #newcreation”]Life is a lot like a puzzle.[/tweetthis]
Pieces of a life snuggle up tight. Some fit together properly and create something beautiful. Some pieces have gotten mixed up with a cramp of confusion, and I realize they were never intended to fit the picture God has for my life.
Misplaced pieces have been added from other puzzles.
Some pieces I put in my life from someone else’s puzzle, tattered bits and snagged parts that seemed like they should be part of my life.
Some I thought I needed; others, I merely thought would look good in the picture of who I want to be.
What happens when I snatch a piece from another puzzle, another life, and try to make it mine? Some pieces look like they will be a sure fit in a particular spot. The curves and smooth edges appear to fit with pieces already in place.
Truth is, I have to do a good deal of pushing and wiggling to try and force the misfit puzzle piece in place. Frustrated, I try another spot, “maybe this will fit better over there…” Again and again, I keep trying to make the pieces look like the picture in my head.
Expectations.
Sometimes I ache with the disjointed fragments pushed in place by others. Misplaced expectations added by others who thought they knew best what I should look like and with good intention, added parts of their puzzles to mine.
Lost pieces.
Somewhere I misplaced parts of myself, lost them along the way. Frittered away in days too busy, treasures dropped in distraction’s wake. Where did they go?
How do I get them back?
Hurry up and be done.
As I hastily try to finish the picture and push all the pieces in place, I sometimes put the right piece in the wrong place in my efforts to get through the work of increasing piece by piece, day by day.
Too often, unwilling to reflect on the Master’s design, I don’t notice that I have placed something in the wrong spot or that the fit is close, but not what was intended. In my self effort, I create a distorted version of what God’s design for my life was intended to be. My self effort creates confusion rather than receives grace.
The ache of empty places.
I feel the stress and the ache of the empty places where I know a piece should be, but I haven’t found the right piece yet. I feel the disjointed uneasiness when pieces of my life are in the wrong place. I long to know the beautiful picture my life was created to be.
God has the power and the desire to make all things new.
This is His promise and His purpose. He is making me a new creation, a new self. Spiritual growth comes as I surrender to Father’s loving hand as He places before me the picture of what His true design is for my life.
As He pulls out the pieces that have been forced into wrong places and gently fits them into their intended spot, the fit is perfect–joy comes and my spirit rests.
One by one, He repairs the pieces that have been bent or broken from the force of hands too insistent and forceful to make the picture look complete rather than fit properly.
[tweetthis twitter_handles=”@GingHarrington” hidden_hashtags=”#identity #newcreation”]Only God can restore the broken.[/tweetthis]
He removes the pieces that never belonged in my life. As He takes something out that does not belong, I feel the discomfort of an empty space that must come in order to make room for what God desires to place there. I feel the impatience to hurry up and be “done.”
One by one, God lovingly places each piece to the puzzle of my character in its proper place. Day by day I see more clearly what my new creation looks like. I am learning to trust that God’s vision of my soul is far more beautiful and whole that anything I can impatiently “create.”
I am learning to cooperate and seek out His hand, rather than attempt to hide what does not belong. I see with increasing joy and clarity that my new creation is Christ in me—the hope of glory. Our God does, indeed, make all things new.
“Therefore, if any man is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, new things have come”. II Corinthians 5:17
So glad you're here. I help busy women—gals like you— build healthy habits for living well with biblical wisdom and practical steps to deepen your faith, increase your hope, and thrive in your purpose.
Ginger, this is extraordinary. I often feel like a puzzle, with pieces misplaced, missing altogether, etc. I have been known to take pieces of other’s puzzles and try to cram them into my own life. I too feel the ache of empty places, places that are waiting for God to fill. I get impatient sometimes, but I know His timing is perfect.
Sweet friend, I am blessed by your response and I know that we often think along such similar lines. Know that I continue to pray for God’s provision for you. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
This IS extraordinary. Wow, I completely relate with the words the Holy Spirit has given you to explain the angst and the process of becoming a new creation in the image of Christ our Savior!
Thank you….I’m sharing this with many.
Thank you so much, Lisa. This is a piece I wrote several years ago and have been waiting for the right time to use it. I am so honored you would want to share! Love that! Blessings as you continue to discover all that God has for you in your new creation!
Ginger, I think every person can see themselves in this. I know for me at one point as a military spouse I was trying to be the pieces I thought others wanted or expected me to be. Now in full-time ministry I find myself heading back to that place of trying to force a piece to belong. I treasure the moments when I remember to be still and wait for God to show me where each my pieces fit.
Such wisdom in this reply Ruth. We tend to think we won’t have these struggles in ministry, but they show up there as well sometimes. Praying for you as God continues to put all the pieces together in the special work you are doing!
Ginger, what a great and appropriate analogy as we walk through our lives. My husband loves putting together puzzles but sometimes the wrong piece in the wrong place can throw him off for quite awhile. I am glad we can depend on the Master of all the puzzles of our lives. Love this, Amy
Puzzles can be rather consuming, can’t they? I’m so glad this post resonated with you. How I appreciate you’re taking the time to read and comment, Amy! Blessings.
Beautiful, Ginger. Your words weave the ways of each of us when we do things, try to do things, in our own strength. I am so thankful that God will make us new.
So glad I came by form Count Your Blessings.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Welcome! I’m so glad you stopped by today!
So much truth here told with such beauty, Ginger. I love the analogy. I’ve settled for way to many mismatched pieces in the past. Praying to let Him take my messed up puzzle and piece it together with His love, grace, and mercy as only He can do. Thank you! God richest blessings!
One of the precious truths of grace is that God is working His will, even in the midst of our mismatched pieces and messy places. Thanks so much for joining us today, Deb. How I love what you are doing through 5 Minutes for Faith and through Blessing Counters!