Life Is Like A Jigsaw Puzzle

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Life Is Like A Jigsaw Puzzle

by Sue Lavigne

Recently, a friend of mine let me borrow her jigsaw puzzle. I was excited since it had been several decades since I had put one together. As I started working on this 1,000-piece puzzle, I began thinking about how putting it together was very much like living the Christian life.

Following A Plan

To assemble a jigsaw puzzle, most people will begin by assembling the edge pieces to form the outline of the puzzle. As Christians, we find the basic outline for our lives in the Word of God. We identify with biblical characters in their struggles. With other Christians, we try to follow the teachings of Jesus as the guide for our lives. was not meant to be, or I tried to make sense of something without considering the completed picture. I forgot that there was a lot more to the whole puzzle than what I could see in one piece. Life is about taking each day (or in this case, each puzzle piece) and telling ourselves that it has a perfect place and purpose in our life. Sometimes, staying with the process, even when frustrating, takes patience and endurance (Psalm 40:1).

Things Can Get Messy

As I pull all the pieces out of the box and sort through them, it becomes very evident that working on this large of a puzzle will be extremely “messy.” Little pieces of the puzzle spread out over my kitchen table and covered my coffee table. Sometimes, our lives feel just this “messy” as well. We may wonder, “What is the purpose for this event in my life?” In other words, “Where does this piece of the puzzle fit?” I’m reminded in this puzzlemaking process that sometimes, we only see a piece of God’s masterpiece puzzle. It may look “messy” to us, but God is creating something good: not only for us but also for others in our lives (Romans 8:28).

Patience Is A Virtue

At one point, I was trying to fit a piece where it did not belong. Other times, I was searching for a specific puzzle piece but could not find it. This was very frustrating to me. How many times have I done the exact same thing with my life? I’ve tried to force something to work that 40 // May 2021

Remember There Is A Plan

It’s nearly impossible to put together a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box. It may be hard for us to see the finished picture God is designing in our lives, too. We are a well-blended mix of relationships and events. Our actions can affect other pieces in this life puzzle. Your life may seem quite small in the scheme of His plan, but remember that every piece has a place in God’s final masterpiece. All the pieces will fit when we let God be in charge of the plan. Remember, letting God lead will keep us from missing any pieces in our puzzle (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Author Susan Lavigne attends Cornerstone Church. She is a Christian speaker and songwriter. Feel free to contact her at susanclavigne@gmail.com.