HomeWord - May 26, 2015

 The Puzzle

This devotional was written by Kelly McFadden

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. —Psalm 143:10

While on a vacation, my family and I worked on a jigsaw puzzle. It was a mystery puzzle, so there was no picture on the box to follow a pattern. Once the puzzle was put together, you used the picture to solve the mystery. We started working and quickly found that some of the pieces connected easily and we could tell right away where they fit. Others were much more difficult.

The last section we worked on was navy blue with no pattern. We thought we had found a match with certain pieces, only to find out the pieces were slightly off. It was frustrating for the final twenty-five pieces to take a half hour to fit together. We had to try each piece in every spot, since they were all a fairly uniform shape and color. Even though they looked alike, each piece was different and slamming our fists on the puzzle trying to make it fit never worked! We would just try somewhere else and it would slide in effortlessly, finding its perfect spot.

Each one of us has a perfect fit. For some, it is easy to figure out what their purpose and role in life is. These people seem at ease, always pursuing the goal they know the Lord has for them. But, many of us are more like the dark puzzle pieces. We think we have found the right spot, we try to squeeze ourselves in, but something doesn’t feel quite right. We know we are close, but something is off.

As I worked on our jigsaw puzzle, I realized that the best thing we can do is continue the search to find the right spot. Likewise, in our lives, we get in trouble when we try to make ourselves fit somewhere because we think (or someone else thinks) we should, when in reality, God’s perfect plan is waiting around the corner.

The Lord has something special planned for each person. He has something special planned for you. You have a spot in God’s plan. You have special purpose. Take the time to explore your gifts and abilities to see how you fit.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Think of at least five ways God has gifted you.

2. What are you doing right now in your life that matches God’s giftedness for you?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 139:14-16; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:11

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