In a recent conversation, I was asked: “Does God really have a specific plan for each of us?” The answer is an absolute “Yes”!
Patterns & Puzzles
It is true that God allows us to freely make choices and decisions that steer or alter our destiny and chart our course. However, God uniquely pours into us His perfect design strategy! He uses a “pattern” much like a seamstress would to craft in us His masterpiece! He pins and fits together our talents, abilities, experiences, aptitude, education, and personality to create in us “the perfect life” in Christ! It is up to each of us to discover just how He intends to use this life He has crafted! Ultimately, we know He desires for us to succeed and to “fit” just right into His plan, whatever that plan might be.
Take a look at II Timothy 2:21 (AMP). It says,
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things (which are dishonorable – disobedient, sinful), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified (set apart for a special purpose) and useful (fit) to the Master, prepared for every
good work.”
In those times when you doubt the integrity of the pattern and fail to see the pieces of your life coming together the way you had expected, know this, you were indeed prepared for good works.
Perhaps today you are viewing your life as overwhelmingly full of wonder, fascination, intrigue, and curiosity – and you are waiting to find “the magic” that puts it all together in a logical, sensible, predictable order. Perhaps you are living in constant anticipation of the finished product and can’t begin to imagine that right now in this moment it will ever have any merit or worth given what God has had to work with. TRUST Him! He knows the overall design and will bring the pieces of your life together at just the right time for making the biggest impact for His kingdom purposes!
Ephesians 2:10 says,
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforeordained (planned and prepared) that we should walk in them. (KJV)
There it is again, we-that is you and I, have been reserved for something extraordinary. His plan for us is a special one!
Even though I know God’s intentions for me are notable and good, I have often found myself in a place where I could not see the big picture, nor understand what seemed to be a confusing mess of disjointed and unrelatable circumstances in my life. It is frustrating to lack the comprehension or vision to see what God might be doing or how He intends it to all come
together for His glory. It is hard to wait patiently as His divine handiwork creates something of beauty and purpose. Yet, we can trust that is exactly what He is doing! God’s hands are never idle. He is always at work.
Philippians 2:13 (NASB) says,
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
May I ask? Are you feeling puzzled about what God is doing in your life? Did you know that in Hebrew the word “puzzle” is derived from the word chidah which means: riddle, a perplexing saying or question? I can certainly say that when trying to figure out God’s plan, or when trying to understand how my circumstances fit into His plan for my life, it has at times felt
like one giant question mark or like trying to solve a complicated riddle! Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite verses. It simply reminds us to trust when our own understanding falls short. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct they paths.”
Yes, dear beloved, the path of life is often scattered and strewn with confusing, fragmented bits and pieces of what’s leftover, rendered as waste, or seemingly unusable, the remnants of all that life is. But God sees in all of that “stuff” the opportunity for creating a testimony, a ministry, and a life-changing, heart-touching, soul-impacting work of art! That is what He sees in YOU and in me! We are called to wear Him well!
When you look a little closer at that Hebrew translation for puzzle you find the word “astonish” as a synonym. To astonish is to strike with sudden and usually great wonder; amaze, astound, stagger, surprise, startle, stun, confound, dumbfound, stupefy, daze, bewilder…. There you are! In brilliant splendor, full of color, texture, and interest, fashioned together in
such a way that the fabric of life tells the story of His handiwork revealed. You and I are not hidden nor forgotten, useless or wasted!
We may not know the full concept of His picture in our lives or have an awareness of His imprint on every detailed part and piece, but it is there! Just wait— He has a few more pieces to fit together! And then, we will leave this world ASTONISHED!
His masterful design, our life’s picture will look brilliantly like JESUS! Amen!
Read also: Trust in the Lord with all your heart
