“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you  may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

(James 1:2-4 NIV)

Five-year-old Lindy and I had been working on a jigsaw.  We worked on it a little each day, before sliding it on the puzzle board, back under the couch.  This day we had made much progress and only had about twenty-five pieces left, when Lindy announced that she was tired and wanted to quit, as those last pieces were always a bit of a trial to fit into their rightful places.  I too felt rather discouraged with this fiddley part, but then my eye caught sight of one particular piece and I knew exactly where it fit.  Grabbing it and popping it into place, Lindy and I grinned at one another and decided to keep going.  Piece after piece began to fit and Lindy yelled: we’re on a roll Grammy!  In short time, the puzzle lay before us, in all its completed splendour.

I have found that the trials we all face, from time to time in this life, can be a lot like Lindy’s and my puzzle experience.  After dealing with, or working on them for an extended period of time, it is easy to want to take a break or if possible, walk away, as we feel we are never going to see their end.  We will never be finished with the situation.  In fact, often the farther we go, the worse things seem to become, which brings to mind that truthful old phrase: it’s always darkest before the dawn.

I often wonder if Job felt this way as he suffered with grief, loss and health issues year after year.  Did Daniel want to give up after being thrown into the lion’s den for continuing to obey God?  Then there is Joseph, whose situation seemed to go from bad to worse time and time again.  None of these biblical heroes gave up and quit however, instead they chose to persevere, trusting in God amidst their puzzling trials, and in the end they all reaped a harvest of reward, spiritual maturity and completion, lacking in nothing.

Likewise, we too must choose, even amidst our tiredness and discouragement, to persevere amidst the puzzles of our lives if we are to become spiritually mature and complete, not lacking in anything.  Let us therefore set our hearts on praising and rejoicing in Him amidst whatever puzzle in our lives we may be seeking to see completed.  After all, today might just be the day when those last frustrating pieces fall into place, in all their Godly splendour and glory.

Prayer:  Father God, may we keep our eyes focused on You, that we may have the strength and joy to persevere amidst all the puzzling trials of life.  In Christ’s name.  Amen.

Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada