Puzzles are brilliant. Although, they can be frustrating, they’re also incredibly rewarding. An artist’s picture or photo is broken up into manageable pieces for us to put back together again.
I can handle a boxed puzzle, but the puzzle of life I rarely have patience for. Maybe it’s because I can’t see the full picture. Maybe it’s because the puzzle piece that is me sometimes doesn’t seem to fit correctly. It’s usually in those moments that I realize I’m trying to make something of myself that I’m not created to be. The beautiful truth is our loving God knows exactly where I need to be, and He knows the same for you.
Some years ago, I had the privilege of traveling with our church to Uganda, Africa, in partnership with Watoto. Wave Church has been a part of their beautiful story for years and sent a team of medical professionals and volunteers to partner with Watoto and tangibly love on their ministry.
It was there that I met a baby boy who I instantly loved. He was incredibly ill, and for the few days we were together, as much as possible, I held him and he held me. His weak hand wrapped around my arm, and his fragile head rested to hear my heartbeat.
During a dinner with our team, I mentioned his symptoms to one of the medical doctors traveling with us. The next day, on our final visit to Baby Watoto, the doctors examined the babies and gave their recommendations. As suspected, the news on my new friend was grim.
Leaving him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I knew a miracle was needed. Still, I asked one of the Watoto caregivers for the child’s name, in hopes that one day I would be able to sponsor him.
Months passed with no word. And when the next team from Wave Church prepared to go on the same trip a year later, my heart was heavy. As much as I had prayed and believed, no news wasn’t a good sign.
And then I received a text message with a picture of an almost-unrecognizable little boy. It was him. And he was healthy, radiant, and smiling. The text from my fellow Wave Leadership College alumni read, “Look who I found.” And the tears started to flow.
Ephesians 4:16 [NLT] says, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
This story could have gone so differently, but the heart of God is love. He not only saw the whole picture, He created it. And when we allow our lives to move and operate in that love, He has a brilliant way of making sure all of the pieces fit together. Father God knew that little boy would need to be at Watoto in order to flourish, and that a team from Wave Church would need to see him, too. He knew he would need medical care, and that for his life to be cared for and seen, people a part of the Church would sacrifice, both in Virginia Beach and globally, in order for Watoto and Wave Church to be in existence.
One life. One puzzle piece. Infinite possibilities. The same is true for all of us. When we allow ourselves to thrive in the hand of God, and allow our heart to trust His heart, we become a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. A picture so beautiful and so lovely, that we’ll never be able to fully understand its depth and grace this side of heaven. As we each do our unique work of being who we were created to be, we add life and strength to the Church.
Today, I sponsor this little boy. My life has been forever changed, and so has his. He’s seven years old, and my latest letter from him read, “I love you so much.”
Your piece is enough. So, be you. Own your part. Love the whole. You’re needed, and we’re truly in this together.
Devoted Devotional By Sara Norcot