Life can be like a big puzzle

"The mystery of God will be accomplished."

- Revelation 10:7 (NIV)

My mother enjoyed putting puzzles together. The more pieces the bigger the challenge.

I didn't have the patience she did to tackle the mystery of those puzzles. However, a few times I sat to sift through the pieces to select a right one to connect it into place. I constantly looked at the picture on the box, hoping to achieve that same result.

I looked for the easiest pieces, like the ones around the edge or a baby blue sky, to ensure success.

I recently met a woman who mentioned that when her husband was in the hospital after a heart attack, the unit he was on had a waiting room for families with a table with a puzzle on it. Anyone could sit and work the pieces into place.

As they waited for the outcome of their loved one's condition, searching for the missing pieces of the puzzle and locking them in place kept their minds occupied. The scattered puzzle pieces mirrored the emotional turmoil they were experiencing.

The ability to connect a piece into place gave them a sense of control over something, bringing hope that their situation would also start to come together.

Our lives can feel like those puzzles, and God doesn't give us a box with a picture on it to show the end result.

However, I find as we sort through the pieces of our life experiences, some of the pieces start to lock into place. As we look at where we've been, we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide the next piece to fit just right.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Annettee will be speaking at the Libertyville Civic Center Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. Hear how to discover purpose to your life's puzzle. Register your seats by calling (847) 543-8413 or email Annetteebudzban@aol.com.