The Writing Puzzle

By Mary A. Hake, OCW President

Life can be a puzzle. Perhaps you view your existence as a jigsaw puzzle, with pieces you struggle to fit together. Or life may seem like a crossword puzzle, where you don’t know all the answers and face blank spaces that need to be filled. Maybe your life unfolds like the challenge of a logic puzzle. You know it would make sense if only you could figure out what goes where and when to put it there. Whatever type of puzzle you envision, God has the proper solution.

It’s that way with your writing too. God sees the beautiful picture the final draft will become if you persevere and keep reworking the pieces. The Lord knows every word and where it belongs in your manuscript, and He can fit them together in perfect harmony. Seek His method to complete it according to His plan. Search His Word to find the right words to fill the empty spaces. Allow the Creator of everything to teach you to connect the words on the page in the most logical way. He will provide wisdom and discernment to those who ask.

Listen to other puzzle-solvers too. Those with experience can share how they approach the task, as well as what is effective and what is not. Working  together on a project may prove to be the best way to accomplish your goal. As in any endeavor, don’t take on too much too soon, but learn and grow as you prepare to handle more complicated problems.