By Patti Wasmuth
Individual Puzzles
I know this is a very difficult season for all of us learning to maneuver through our “new normal.” We all recognize, that this is “new territory” for us and no one really knows what tomorrow brings.
It is like Joshua learning to listen to the Lord’s careful instruction, as he was told, “you have not been this way before.” (Joshua 3:4) However, we should walk in confidence, because we do know the One who holds All our tomorrows in His hands. We know He is faithful and trustworthy in ALL His ways.
A while ago, I had a dream, and in the first part of the dream I was in a huge room facing a 20-foot wall. As I looked up, I saw a huge puzzle on the wall. It started from the top near the ceiling and filled almost the entire wall I was facing. There were lots of people working diligently to complete the picture.
In the next part of the dream, I saw several people individually working on smaller individual puzzles (about the size of a normal 500-piece puzzle). I knew each puzzle was unique; some were almost finished, and others I observed only had part of their “picture” puzzle completed. As some of the people completed their puzzles, suddenly they realized, their unique “puzzle” fit into the “larger” one I had seen in the previous scene. It was a revelation that caused them to look beyond themselves. Soon excitement grew as they began to move toward the “bigger” picture and they began to see where they “fit” in the “bigger” plans.
Individual Puzzles
I then watched the first person, carefully slip a thin paper under his puzzle, he was being very cautious not to lose any of his work…he then carefully started to move it toward the larger puzzle knowing it would fit perfectly in place when he got his completed puzzle pieces transported to the larger picture puzzle…
It would fit perfectly in place when he got his completed puzzle…
The next person I observed, was not quite as careful, and when he started to slide the pieces of his puzzle, it broke apart. He quickly realized he did not want to lose his work, so he grabbed the lid of the puzzle box, and then strategically slide the large “chunks” of his completed puzzle into the box lid. He did this several times layering the chunks of his completed puzzle, recognizing when he got to the “big” picture puzzle; all he had to do was carefully slide them out and reconnect the pieces.
The third person I observed began to quickly gather his puzzle and as he did the pieces buckled under the sudden pressure of movement. Instead of slowing down and reassembling the pieces, he continued to move quickly. He became impatient and frustrated as the completed puzzle crumbled into pieces in his hand.
Anger and great frustration, overtook him. He didn’t think it should take this long or be so hard. Then he began to throw the pieces in to the box, he turned and walked away. He began to grumble about how tired he was, and how he was done trying to complete this. Then he declared, “I am not about to sit around and reassemble everything again, even in light of the big picture!”
The Chess Master
In the next part of the dream, I saw a man delightedly sitting in what seemed to be a major strategic planning center… There were TV screens filling the entire room. The screens lined each wall from the top of the wall to the very bottom. Each individual TV screen projected different types of information from all over the world.
A man was sitting near an almost holographic three-dimensional chess game. It was almost five feet tall, and there were several levels he was “playing” at the same time. He had a jubilant smile on his face and would strategically move a piece on one level. He would look all around the room, and then almost giggle with delight. Then suddenly with a serious look, he would move a piece on another level of the chess board. Sometimes he would take extra time to contemplate his next move; looking at the monitors to make sure his plan was carefully calculated.
At first, I didn’t recognize the man. I was just observing his actions, as he continued to make very strategic plans and calculated moves. Then suddenly he turned around…. And, I knew it was Jesus…
I heard Him say, “I have not lost control of anything!
He continued, “I am making strategic moves for the next season, keep focused on the big picture and you will see how your individual puzzle pieces fit. Do not get discouraged and throw away all you have been working on.
How Individual Puzzles Fit Together
Seek Me and strategically let Me help you transition you to the next season, and soon you will better understand how things fit together…
What you are looking at in front of you is not the complete picture…”
Then I saw a huge group of people… the auditorium was a 3/4 circle facing a very large platform. All of a sudden, people started coming out of their seats from various parts of the auditorium…There were no particular “types” of people, there were men, women, children, and people of ALL races and nationalities. People of every socioeconomic background and every span of education.
Suddenly I heard a click, and the arm then locked in place with the person beside them…
Each person moving toward the platform, had a very serious determined look on their faces. As they moved forward, it was with great resolve. NOTHING was going to stop them no matter what. Each person kept looking forward as they moved toward the front of the altar area. As they came closer to the person beside them that person slightly raised their arm, and immediately I saw a locking mechanism in their arm. As they received the arm beside them, suddenly I heard a click, and the arm then locked in place with the person beside them. This continued to happen as each arm was raised, first the right arm and then the left…until there was a human wall.
There was no space between them, as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder, arms locked in place. They were Mighty Warriors with determination to MOVE forward no matter what.
Together they became a massive wall MOVING FORWARD… plowing down anything in its path…It was with the sense of the scripture…the kingdom of God, suffers violence… and the VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE…. they were ruthless with the enemy…
They were moving forward for God’s kingdom as one mighty tool… unashamedly, powerfully, and with no personal agenda, and no gap in the wall… following only the instructions of their Master…
Working Together
As we sit in quarantine, let us complete our “individual” puzzles, recognizing that you were born for such a time as this! You do “fit” in the “bigger picture.” Don’t get discouraged in well doing. You will reap if you “faint not.” Don’t let this time be filled with frustration or discouragement. Instead, rise up, MIGHTY Man of God, rise up MIGHTY Woman of God. Link arms and become “one MIGHTY tool” in His hand.
Alone as we war, we may seem like a small and insignificant dowel rod, but together we can be a Battering Ram against the ploys of the enemy. The heart of our nation is at risk along with our religious freedom. Let God arise and let the enemy be scattered. God is with us, and He has NOT lost control of anything; however, we are in a season where we must focus on the bigger picture and His purpose for this season. Seek Him and He will show you where you fit in the bigger picture.