The Puzzle of Life

 The Puzzle of Life

By Hannah R.

You know that moment when a piece of a puzzle that looks right, that you're certain is right, just won't fit where you want it to? You know that frustration? That anger that comes out? The throwing of the piece down, or that exasperated sigh of despair as you sit despondently back to stare at the unfinished puzzle? Remember how we need to stop, sit back, take a breather, and then come back to it with a renewed vigour and a fresh mind? 


Maybe life is like that. Maybe those moments in life where everything seems to go wrong, or you keep trying to do what seems like the right thing is or you're certain is the right thing and it never works out are like those puzzle pieces that just don't quite fit. Maybe those moments of anger at something that just doesn't work out or that frustration at your calender not lining up so you can do everything you want to do is like that. Maybe, just maybe, mental health is like that. Maybe we're all too busy getting fixated and annoyed at someone with depression staying in bed all day that we forget the big picture. Maybe we're all getting angry with that person who has anxiety or OCD that are fixating on one small thing that doesn't seem like a problem that we forget that their piece of the puzzle is just not fitting right. What if that person with PTSD is a phobiac of something because of traumatic events in their past and we never bothered to ask them why they're a phobiac of that thing, instead we just got continually frustrated at them over their fear?


Maybe we all just need to stop and take a step back. Maybe we all need to walk away for a moment and come back with fresh minds. Instead of frustration and anger. Instead of irritation and short tempers, we should be asking ourselves: what do I need? Why is this not working? What am I missing? What can I do to help?


What would stepping back look like? What can we do to centre ourselves? Some people would turn to mediation. Others to a good book. Still others to the company of good friends. But we all should be seeking rest in God's word. In the Lord's word, we have sentences of calm and reassurance. We are gifted with Grace and knowledge. We are taught how to approach life, and what to do in difficult situations. We are shown how to be loving and kind to those who struggle. In God's word, we are given the key to open the locked gate and walk on the narrow path Jesus wishes to walk with us. The path of love and kindness. The path of understanding and righteousness. The path to being like him.


Through God's word we see people doubting, questioning, hitting a brick wall, finding they have that piece of a puzzle that seems like the right one, that they're sure is the right piece, but doesn't quite fit. We see how God leads them, teaches them, reassures them, giving them rest and peace. And after all their questioning, doubting, frustration, and anger they come back to their task with renewed vigour and a fresh mind, ready to go on with life and the work at hand. We see them comforting the sick. Caring for those scared of the world. Helping others to Christ and overcoming their fears. It is in God's word we find the peace and reassurance needed.


So take a step back, rest yourself. Read God's word. Let's come back to this puzzle of life refreshed and reinvigorated. After all, rest and peace do wonders to the mind.

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