Craig Clouston

Pieces of Hope

For I know the plans I have for you … plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

Merrill had stopped looking in mirrors several months ago. He couldn’t deal with the pain of even the slightest glance. Morbidly overweight, he began isolating himself, limiting all social activities. He quit his job, alleging he was too sick to work. He did his grocery shopping in the middle of the night when everyone else was asleep. He eventually stopped going out in public altogether. And when his health really did begin to deteriorate, Merrill couldn’t compel himself to seek medical attention.
Merrill languished between shame and self-loathing, constantly thinking of himself as a loser with no hope of ever returning to a life of joy and happiness.
Fortunately, Merrill’s pastor wasn’t the kind to let someone disappear off the grid without finding out why.
Merrill was horrified the day his pastor showed up at his front door. But a momentary sense of hope outranked his shame, and Merrill allowed him in. One visit turned into many. With each opportunity, the pastor spoke to Merrill of God’s love for him and assured him that if he would trust God, God would change his life. But first he had to allow God to change his heart, change how he thought God saw him and how he should perceive himself.
Over time, Merrill responded, dealing with the issues that clouded his self-perception. He rediscovered God’s love and returned to life among the living.

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Our lives begin as an unassembled puzzle. As children, we never hesitate asking our parents for help in putting the pieces together. But as we age, pieces of us can get torn or even lost. Sometimes the puzzle falls apart completely.
Many times, in secret, we attempt to fix things on our own, denying ourselves beneficial assistance.
God wants to help us fit the pieces of our lives together correctly. He knows where each piece is and where it fits.
We cannot hope to change our lives unless we first give God the ability to change our heart. And for Him to do so, we must give Him all the pieces.

Prayer

“Loving Father, I bring to You every piece there is of me. Take my life and make it whole. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”