Last week, Kristin & me were talking with some friends
of ours about how we remember our mothers putting puzzles together when we were
younger. I used to enjoy helping my mom with the puzzles and I have great
memories of searching through the pieces looking something that looked like it
would fit somewhere on the table. That was the fun of it for me, finding the
next piece, the realization that I’ve figured out what’s next. Many times, I’ve
looked at my life with the same goal, to try and figure out how the pieces
would fit together. Somehow, I felt that if I could figure it out, I could
“help” God move me in the direction that He wants me to go.
However, in Isaiah 55:8-11, it becomes very clear that this
is an impossible task.
8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and
the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread
for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return
to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for
which I sent it.” (NIV)
I have effectively given up trying to figure out how all of
the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Just when I think I see what God is
doing, he either adds another 1,500 pieces or changes the puzzle all together.
I know many people would struggle living a life where it seems that things are
changing all the time but I love change, always have. The adventure of the
unknown fits my personality and the way God created me quite well. I can’t tell
you how many times in the last 10-15 years I have sat back and said to myself
or someone in my family, “well, let’s see how God is going to work this out”.
Every time I’ve said that, EVERY time, He has never let me down…ever. It may
not have been what I thought it was going to be or what I thought it should be but
it has always been exactly what I have needed and it has always exceeded my
expectations.
Because of that, I will continue to follow God’s leadings
wherever they may lead me and my family. Through our trips and future move to
Zambia as well as our stay here in the US. Sometimes that’s a little scary and
not knowing exactly where God is taking us is a faith journey for sure but when
I look back at all the times that God has shown up and executed His perfect
plan for us I am able to sit back and say, “look at that, that was God, He did
that”. That is such a sweet place to be and it gives me the strength once again
respond in faith, in total surrender to whatever God has in store for us next. My
circumstances are just another piece of the puzzle, when God is done, the only
thing left will be a beautiful portrait painted by Him and Him alone. Nothing I
do will improve or diminish what He is doing in my life. My job is to follow
Him and allow Him fit the pieces where they belong because He knows best.
- Ben
