It's a Puzzle: A 10-Day Devotional About... LifeSample

Day 10: Will I Ever Finish This Thing???

Everyone who comes into this world gets their own unique puzzle. Others begin putting it together for you. Gradually, you begin to realize you can do some of it on your own. Eventually, and on more than one occasion, you will get stuck. You will make a mess of your puzzle—we all have.

Your puzzle/life does not come with instructions. The good news is there is a set of instructions tailor-made to your specific puzzle. They are available upon request and guaranteed to aid you with constructing your unique puzzle. But you have to admit you need them. You have to ask for them. And you have to ask the Creator of your puzzle (your life) to forgive you for making such a mess of things.

You will be tempted to put your puzzle back in the box and up on a dusty shelf.

You will want to use “I can’t” or “It’s too hard!” as an excuse.

Someone may have said, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” I’m sorry to tell you... that’s a lie. God often gives us much more than we can handle... on our own. Instead, He wants you to rely on Him (Psalm 55:22, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

Max and Libby will often play “school” at home. More often than not, Libby is the “teacher,” and Max is the “student.” Occasionally I’ll have to step into the “classroom” and say to Libby, “There’s a big difference between teaching and being bossy, and right now... you’re being bossy.” But God’s not like that.

When Max is working on a puzzle, sometimes he tries to cram the wrong pieces together when he’s sure they’re supposed to fit. I tell him, “If you have to force it, then that piece doesn’t belong there.”

And that’s the process for life. If you’re not enjoying it (your life), you may be trying to force the wrong pieces together. God didn’t design us to be miserable, which is what you will be if you’re not asking for His guidance. And He doesn’t just want you to finish your puzzle; He wants you to finish well. He wants to be able to tell you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:14-28)

In John chapter 2, a wedding takes place in Cana. Here we see Jesus’ first recorded miracle: turning water into wine. Just prior to this miracle is what really intrigues me. Jesus’ mother gives the best advice ever: “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)

If you want to be successful in life, have a full life, and finish your puzzle well, listen to Mary’s advice and do whatever Jesus tells you.