Puzzle Pieces 

By: Melody Mohnhaupt

“Sometimes I feel like my life is a big jigsaw puzzle and for some reason, none of the pieces are fitting together. I keep trying, one piece after the other, but it still just seems like a big confusing mess. I can't see the picture yet. Thankfully, God sees the big picture. My vision is too small for all that he is. All that he's doing. However, I trust in his puzzle piece placement. The picture is coming together.” 

This morning i found these words written in my journal. I laughed because these went hand in hand with what the Lord has been showing me this week. Which is this verse:

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” Psalm 16:8,9

I read these verses a few days ago and my heart leapt! I realized how curtail it is to keep Jesus before our eyes. He has to be our anchor, our point of reference in every situation, and the very foundation of our lives! When our life appears to be in shambles will we fear? Will we doubt God’s goodness? Will we assume he has forgotten us? Or will we not be moved?

I will admit I’ve struggled with depression and have found myself in some pretty dark places because I couldn't seem to keep my eyes on the Lord. I’ve had to fight to keep Jesus the center of my attention! I can't focus on the problem. I have to focus on the solution!

It was hard to get here, but I can confidently say that through my persistence, I am now FULL of joy! My heart is glad! I have hope! Jesus is the only one that made this possible!

We as humans only see a tiny, little piece of the picture and can become overwhelmed and discouraged! It’s like we only have one puzzle piece and we are trying to somehow finish the whole puzzle. It seems impossible and hopeless, right? We don’t see how the picture could magically come together without the missing pieces! Has that ever happened to you where you're working on a puzzle or a project and you just can't see it coming together? Sometimes it takes almost ’til you put the last piece down that you finally see it? 

Fear not! Our father has every last piece and is placing them down according to his plan! Right now, it may look like a big mess! But just wait until the pieces start fitting together! You are so much closer to seeing it than you even realize! 

In the mean time, set the Lord before you! Rest in hope, knowing that he has everything under control! A song called “Unredeemed” really ministered to me this weak, and the Lord has already confirmed that a dear sister to me needed to hear those very words! I believe someone else reading this, maybe you, need to be reassured today. 

Jesus has not forsaken you. He has not forgotten the promises he’s made to you. He is bringing each promise into fruition as you keep your eyes on him and allow yourself not to be moved! 

Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began focusing on the waves around him. He began to doubt the goodness and power of the Lord. He let his faith dwindle. And this is why he WAS moved. Do not make the same mistake he did!

Be encouraged today and know that God’s ways are not our ways. His timing is not our timing. He knows what he’s doing. All we need to do is rest in His hope.