As you look over your life so far, do any of the pieces in your rearview seem puzzling?
Confusing? Bewildering? Perplexing? Confounding?
Like those moments you wonder: why are they even there, and how could I ever explain that?
Sometimes explaining our own history is just as mystifying as wondering why other people do what they do. Naturally, they’re idiots. So we shouldn’t be surprised. But for me? I merely had a lapse of judgment. Or made a mistake. Or didn’t have all the facts.
Even when I do the same exact things.
When I’m totally honest with myself, I simply don’t understand some of the stupid moments of my life. Sometimes asking myself, “What were you THINKING???” is even an overstatement. Because in my better moments I realize that, had any thinking been involved at all, it would have resulted in an entirely different outcome.
Sometimes I blame God. “Why did you make me this way in the first place?!!” Sometimes when I look at my life all I see is a jumble of screw-ups and hurts and anxieties and broken dreams and should’ve-been. And I can’t ever make sense of everything that’s there.
So how is it God can see purpose in everything? Or does he?
The Apostle Paul seems to think so. He draws an interesting comparison in his second letter to the Corinthian church:
It was God who said, “The light will shine in the darkness.” He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NLV
Catch that? Paul is suggesting that, just as God made light shine in the darkness during Creation, he is also making the light shine in (the darkness of) our hearts.
The dumbest, darkest moments of our lives? Those parts that seem unacceptable or unforgivable? God simply wants to overwhelm our past with his grace and love and acceptance, and turn every bit of those into purposeful pieces.
Think about it: If you can trust a puzzle company to make sure every piece is in the box to complete the puzzle, then why can’t you trust God that every puzzling piece of your life is there for a reason?
We might never realize or understand the reason, but God has a purpose in that as well:
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
1 Corinthians 1:27 MEV
Confound. Puzzle. Bewilder. And embarrassed, because the wise and mighty thrive on being in control, seeing the big picture, and displaying logical reasoning.
But their picture is never as big as God’s. And it never has all the details that he has.
Neither do we.
So today, take a moment to thank God that he continues to use your life and fit it into place in his big picture. And take a step towards trusting that he will always do so.
Pray this prayer: “Thank you Lord that my life can be used for your purposes. Help me to believe that you are fitting my life into your plan. Even the stupid parts. And when it doesn’t make sense to me, teach me to trust you more. In Jesus’ name, I ask. Amen.”
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.