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Devotional

One Piece At A Time

by KAY L. LONGEVITY Balancing ministry, family, & life Burn out Contentment Expectations God’s guidance & direction Grace Rest
One Piece At A Time
“Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:3-4

1,000 pieces. At first glance, it’s a big pile of little color splotch cardboard pieces. Somehow it is to become the beautiful garden scene on the box. That is, unless I choose to give up. During my sabbatical, I learned that puzzles are both a frustrating and satisfying way to relax and unwind. Since sabbatical is to be a time when you learn more about yourself and also find new ways to refresh, I tried out puzzles. The process is simple at first. Find all the edges and string them together then find the parts of the picture that stand out and so on and so forth. Sometimes it starts out rather quickly but with others it took a bit more time. I found with everyone one of them, there usually comes a point when it looks like it won’t work or there are pieces missing. Sometimes it felt that there was no way I was going to be able to figure out all the white and blue pieces that were to become clouds and water. I don’t know how many times I even thought of giving up and that I was wasting my time. That feeling of disbelief that the pieces are correct or that the puzzle could be completed creeps in. However, stubbornness in me pops up and keeps pushing on, trying one piece after another and eventually, somehow, pieces start connecting and a breaking point happens when it all starts coming together and the picture is complete!


Now, I find puzzles to be soothing and a great strategy for longevity. Now I see 1,000 little problems that I can solve. The same strategies of puzzling can be applied to life and ministry. It all looks daunting, but if you take it one step at a time, trying different ways, taking breaks, looking at different perspectives, and trying again and again, at some point you get in a groove and it all starts coming together to find a beautiful picture at the end. James 1:3-4 speaks of the testing of faith to produce endurance and how endurance completed gives us maturity, completion and nothing lacking. It is the trials and failures that we go through that build our problem-solving skills, our perspective, and endurance. Just take it one issue at a time, one problem, one part. Piece by piece, problem by problem, each step takes us closer to the finish…the Father’s beautiful picture He made us to be.


Closing Prayer
Father, thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for the beautiful picture of our life that you have. Help us piece it together step by step, problem by problem in your time. We ask for endurance to keep going, tenacity to push ahead despite discouragement and the desire to give up, and faith that you will carry us through. Thank you that you are building in us an amazing tapestry of wholeness found in You. Amen.
Resources
App: Jigsaw Puzzle If you can’t get a box of puzzles but want to try them out, this app is an easy way to start down the puzzle road. Various difficulty levels and pictures.
Shop: Puzzle Warehouse Largest puzzle warehouse in the United States. Second-hand shops, Facebook marketplace, and friends are great places for inexpensive puzzles. Create a “puzzle swap” where everyone exchanges the puzzles they have.
Book: Staying Fresh by Dr. Kathleen Tolleson Great little book with practical tips on staying strong and refreshed in a life of ministry.
Question for Reflection

What are other “puzzling life lessons” of longevity can you think of?

Comments
Kay L.
January 05, 2023

Taking a break. Sometimes I just need to step away from the puzzle (aka. life situation) and do something else. Rest. Clear my head and what I look at. Then, when I go back to it, I usually see things from a different perspective and with “fresh eyes”.