Part of a Whole

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed putting together jigsaw puzzles. I learned that there is a therapeutic benefit associated with putting puzzles together. The dopamine, or the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is released from the brain immediately as the puzzle comes to completion. It is the joy of inserting the last piece of the puzzle and seeing the picture revealed. Of all the pieces in the box, the last piece releases the hormone and provides revelation.

A fun fact is that some jigsaw puzzles take over 400 man-hours to make from beginning to end. However, the simplest description is that a puzzle begins with a complete picture. The picture is pressed onto a cardboard, and then cut into pieces with each individual piece having a portion of the picture. When assembled, these pieces reproduce the complete picture.

When assembling a puzzle, I always start by framing the outer edges and then connecting sections to the edges. I usually never start in the middle because I want the pieces to be connected and secure to keep them from getting lost. As I sort through the pieces, although I can identify their place in the puzzle based on the picture, I put them in sorting trays where I keep all the pieces until the section they belong to is prepared to connect to it. This resembles how we must wait on God’s timing to use us.

If we rush ahead of God’s plans for us, we may find ourselves isolated and disconnected. We may even try to connect with other pieces, people, or organizations that we were not meant to be connected to, leaving us feeling disjointed or even disfigured. It’s because we are out of place. It’s not time yet. Yet implies that there is a specified time.

There are also times when assembling puzzles where I have found two pieces that were stuck together, so I gently separate them to keep from damaging the pieces. During the process of putting a puzzle together, I hold and examine each piece numerous times, becoming familiar with it, but not putting it on the table until it is time to connect it to another piece.

Just as a puzzle starts as a complete picture, the world started as a complete picture to God. Isaiah 46:10 says, I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ God knows the end from the beginning and exactly where each of us fits in the picture. He’s known it since creation. His purpose for us will stand, and nothing can stop Him from doing what He said. Recall to mind what He has said to you. You got it in your mind? Ok. Now nothing can stop Him from doing that thing that He said. Not even time. It’s not too late, and it hasn’t been too long.

Jeremiah 29:4-14 says, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

When we feel like puzzle pieces stuck in sorting trays, know that God will take care of us as He did for Judah while in captivity. We may not be exiled, although sometimes the wait feels like it. Rest in His care. Sense His touch as He holds us in His hand. What other place would you rather be than in His will?

Finally, since each individual piece of the puzzle has a portion of the picture, a missing piece would leave the picture incomplete. God hasn’t forgotten about any of us, and according to Luke 15:3-7, He would leave the ninety-nine to rescue just one of us if we were lost. Piece by piece, He is revealing Himself to the world through us, and every piece is needed, even the last one. Remember, it’s the piece that brings joy and revelation.