The God of Peace is also the God of Pieces: Living a Kaleidoscope Life

I love reading church signs. I often find them comforting, especially when I have been praying fervently about something. It is like God hears my heart. And to know that He nudged someone to put that saying on the sign at that time just amazes me. Perfect word and perfect timing. Only God can do that!

After my son died tragically, I pleaded for God to comfort my shattered heart. I knew that I would never be the same person, but I also knew that if God left me here, then I must have purpose. I could not think clearly enough to figure out what His purpose was for me because I felt like everything was merely organized chaos, and I was just going through the motions.

As I was wiping the tears from my face, I drove by a little country church sign that read “Living a Kaleidoscope Life.” I pulled off the road, realizing that message was just for me! For years, my life was in disarray, and I felt so confused. I am sure you have felt the same way at times.

After I saw the sign at that little church, I sat in my truck and tried deciphering what living a kaleidoscope life meant. I remember as a child having a toy kaleidoscope. The bright colors on the inside, pieces of colored plastic, made colorful patterns when I turned the part holding the tiny pieces. A small mirror inside reflected those tiny pieces, arranging them in beautiful, unique ways. There were so many possibilities inside!

Sitting there looking at that sign, I thought about all the failures and sufferings in my life. None of them I asked for, yet they still happened. Recognizing how broken I was, I thought about all the pieces in a kaleidoscope and how life had turned me around so many times. Yet, I knew God had a bigger plan for my life. I just could not see it through the tears. In Jeremiah 17:14 (MSG), it reads “God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!”

I soon realized my life was like that kaleidoscope, full of broken pieces, shifting daily. I did not understand why my marriage failed or why my son died, but I knew God’s plan was greater than mine. Only He could put my broken heart back together again. And the extraordinary thing was that when those broken pieces were reconnected, I was spiritually stronger than I was before I was broken.

If your life seems like broken pieces, broken plans, broken dreams, bring it to God. Perhaps you are depressed and feel like you cannot raise your head off the pillow let alone raise your hands in church. We must trust that God is in between those broken pieces.

In Philippians 4:6, Paul tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Well, it is hard not to be anxious. It is easy to pray about everything, but do we really believe God can fix our problems? It is also easy to tell God what we need, right? But it is the trust and having the faith to wait for answers that can be tough.

Know that God hears us, even when we do not have the words to say. Psalm 56:8 says that He knows our wanderings, counts every tear, and puts them in a bottle. That means He understands us and is aware of every tear we ever cried and every prayer we ever prayed. From your lips to God’s ears…He hears us!

Philippians 4:9, Paul says the things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Paul is telling us how to have peace. Do the things you do promote peace? Or do the things you do pollute your peace? What do you allow in your space---your head space? To have peace, you must embrace the God of peace.

It is amazing to see where you now considering what God brought you through. Believe me, other people watch how you react to demanding situations to tell if you really have peace with God. Unfortunately, some people are just waiting for you to crumble under pressure.

You may feel like God is finished with you or there is nothing left to work with. But when you call out to Him, He hears you and you will start to feel your heart beating again. In Philippians 4:9, Paul says when you are standing in a place where you do not know how things will turn out, remember the things you learned, heard, and saw. Only someone who has felt the hurt can help someone with a similar hurt. Stand on what GOD has told you, not what someone else thinks. God’s promises are true and eternal. In Isaiah 40:8 it reads, “Grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever.”

Paul is also telling us that we learn and receive knowledge from our experiences, not all at once, but as time unfolds. We must focus on and practice God’s teachings by studying His word. God reveals Himself to us in different seasons of our life. Think about what Paul went through, yet he kept his faith in God. It takes practice! You must guard your mind, heart, and emotions constantly. If a bad thought or temptation enters your mind, cast it to hell from which it came! And finally, you must learn how to find peace in the pieces. God’s mercy and forgiveness will guide you to the other side of hurt.

Even if you cannot see the whole picture now, you will better understand the reason for the pieces. We may not see why now, but 6 months down the road, we will have our ‘ah ha’ moment. Stand on the rock of your foundation by calling on the name of JESUS first! In Psalm 145:14, it says “The LORD upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down.”

Did you hear that? He loves those who fall and raises those you bow down. That means He loves everyone!

The song, I Made It, by Cain says these words: “I cried many tears and had many questions why, but looking back, through every step God never left me. And I am so thankful that I am coming out the other side stronger, one foot in front of the other, hands still raising, heart still praising!” Yes, you made it and came out the other side much stronger!

Remember the scripture in Jeremiah 17:14? If you think about it, God did pick up your pieces and put you back together again. Praise Him!”

But now that you have made it, what are you going to do with it? The God of Peace is also the God of pieces and honey; He can use that!

Did you know there are over one hundred broken people in the Bible that God used anyway. They felt worthless, confused, overwhelmed, depressed, and often had no clue what their purpose was in life or how to even start. Some of their stories do not even tell us the person’s name but the stories were so powerful that they were included in God’s word. So, when you have a problem, read the Bible and find out how God solved their problems.

Some of the well-known people and their stories included Adam & Eve, Noah, Jonah, Abraham, Joseph & his brothers, and Moses & Aaron.

But what about the little-known people or nobodies that God used?

Do you know who Eutychus was? He was the fellow sitting in the window listening to Paul preach. But he fell asleep and fell out the window! His story teaches us not to fall asleep in church.

Do you know who Apollos was? He was a skilled speaker but lacked foundational knowledge about Jesus. Therefore, he sought wisdom from Priscilla and Aquila and they taught him God’s word. Later, Apollos became a valuable minister in the early church! His story teaches us to study the Bible and seek the wisdom of other believers.

Do you know Rahabiah in Nehemiah? He was a descendant of Moses who was quiet and unknown. But God chose him for a significant role in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. His story teaches us that God sees our potential and our talents even when we do not see them. He will use us to do magnificent work if we just say YES to His calling. He promises to supply all we need for His calling on our life.

I am sure you have heard of Jabez. His mother named him Jabez because of her difficult labor and birth. The name Jabez means “sorrowful” or “pain.” In Bible times, names and what they meant were very meaningful and intended to be prophetic. Could you imagine having to carry that name? But that one verse in I Chronicles 4:10 set the world on fire, even today as there have been several books written off this one verse! It reads:

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! And God granted him what he requested.” Jabez’s story teaches us not to be limited by our beginnings or situations that happen to us, but to reach out to God for blessing, for opportunity right where you are, for protection from evil and pain, for watching over him, and for anointing over his life.

What about the women in the Bible that were broken but God still used them?

Rahab was a prostitute who hid Israelite spies and later became part of the lineage of Jesus. She was the mother of Boaz who was the great-great-grandfather of David. Her story taught us to listen to God’s voice, ask questions, have faith that God will protect you and your family. And when He calls you to serve, serve.

Naomi suffered the loss of her husband and sons, but became the mother-in-law of Ruth, who later became part of Jesus’s lineage. Ruth’s great grandson became King David. Her story taught us to persevere in the most challenging times in life and stay focused on God’s purpose for our life.

Abigail was married to a wicked man named Nabal. But she was incredibly wise and people noticed. And because of her wisdom, she later became Kind David’s wife. Her story teaches us to share our wisdom and help guide others toward God.

The widow of Zarephath (no name given) faced poverty and the death of her son, but experienced God’s provision thru Elijah. What if she had not followed God’s nudge to see Elijah. Her story teaches us to trust God for all that we need. Even when facing death, being at the bottom of your pit, trust that God will always provide.

The servant girl of Naaman’s wife (no name given) was a captive Israelite girl who helped a Syrian commander named Naaman. He had leprosy and suffered greatly. She encouraged him to see the prophet, Elisha. Her story teaches us to pray for others and help them find resources for healing.

Esther was an orphan and an exile who became queen. She courageously saved her people even in the face of her own death because God provided her wisdom and perfect timing. Her story teaches us to stand up for what is right in God’s eyes, even when facing death.

The woman at the well (name unknown) had multiple failed marriages and lived with a man who was not her husband. She was an outcast by public standards. Yet she led her whole town to Jesus after her spiritual encounter with Jesus at the well. Her story teaches us to never doubt our worth, knowing that God can still use us for kingdom work and to save souls.

Peter’s mother-in-law was raised from the dead by Jesus. And what did she do? She immediately got up from her death bed and prepared a meal for all of them. Her story teaches us to show gratitude to others through service. How many times have you served mourning families or those in need through meal trains?

The woman with issue of blood (name unknow) had bled for 12 years and was desperate for healing. She knew Jesus could heal her and made enormous effort to touch the hem of Jesus’s garment, even though she was in a big crowd. Her faith in Him healed her. Her story teaches us to be courageous and know that God can heal the worst diseases if it is His will.

Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven demons but became a dedicated follower of Jesus by helping share God’s word throughout the countryside. She was very instrumental in building the early church. Her story teaches us that depression, anxiety, and emotional bondage can be removed through the renewal of the mind and spirit by abiding in God’s love, grace, and mercy.

Lydia was a businesswoman and the first European convert to Christianity. She opened her home to the early church. Her story teaches us about hospitality and serving God by serving others.

The woman caught in adultery (name unknown) was publicly shamed by religious leaders for adultery yet she found forgiveness through Jesus himself. Her story teaches us that God forgives ALL our sins, no matter what they are, when we ask Him to have mercy on us.

The woman with the alabaster jar (name unknown) was known for her sinfulness. But one day she fell at Jesus’s feet and washed His feet with her many tears. She anointed them with expensive perfume and dried His feet with the hair on her head. The Pharisees could not understand why she would ‘waste’ such expensive oil. Her story teaches us to love God and to pour our heart out to Him, no matter how ridiculous it may look to others.

The widow with the two mites (name unknown) is another woman. The sound of her tiny offering clanging in the offering plate was made fun of by the more well-off people in the crowd. Her story teaches us to give all you have to God unconditionally and trust in God’s provision because He will pour oil from empty jars!

All of these are stories told for His glory!

I figured out the saying “living a kaleidoscope life” allows God to make something beautiful out of our broken pieces. Trust Him to guide your path daily. Stay focused on His Word, abide in His presence, and watch all the pieces fall back into perfect place. And at the end of the day, our renewed spirit will help others navigate their challenges. Rejoice in knowing the God of Peace is also the God of pieces!

Victory is doing the hard things anyway…while trusting God and His plan. Emotions drive our actions so we must take control of our emotions. Cast out any negative thought and refocus your mind on God. Let people see your faith and the reason for your hope.

Think of a time when someone has moved you, willing to tell you about their most vulnerable moments, not to get sympathy, but to give God the glory for what He did in their situation. My most painful valleys have made me more compassionate, more empathetic, and better equipped to share in others’ suffering. It has helped me better understand what to say (or what not to say) when trying to encourage others through tough times. God does not always call us to be prophets, but He does call us to tell our stories. We are called to reach into the lives of hurting people and empower them by telling what God did for us!

My whole life is a God story and my life experiences have allowed me to help others. We are just one prayer away from a testimony! Remember the power of prayer!!! It should be the first thing we do when confronted with a problem. In Psalm 124:1, we see the words spoken by Israel, “If the Lord had not been on our side.” We must tell others what God has done for us. And we must practice peace daily. God knows when we are ready and His timing is perfect. He equips us to do His work. We just need to tell Him, “Lord, here I am, send me!”

The devil wants you to get distracted by the big pile of pieces. But God wants you to share your story about YOUR storm and how you came out stronger! And remember, your story may not be over. He is still writing the pages of your story. Trials will come and when you find yourself in a demanding situation, pray, read His word, and look for the parts of the story that you will one day use to help others.

My prayer is that every story you marked on those little pieces of plastic becomes a beautiful story of how God brought you through, why we have peace, and what we learned during that valley. I pray the God will give you strength and a renewing of your mind so that you can be a blessing to someone else who finds them along a similar journey. Telling your story really hurts bad at first, but when you see how it empowers others to press on, it gives you strength to carry on. Just like Jabez did, ask God to bless you and anoint you for His calling on your life. Ask Him to enlarge your territory and allow you to see opportunity to do His work right where you are. Ask Him for protection from evil and pain.

The God of Peace is the God of Pieces and living a Kaleidoscope life is exactly what God wants you to do. As you leave here today, please tell your story for His glory! Write it down. And then write it down again because the first copy will be saturated with tears. Practice telling your story. And when God enlarges your territory, He will send people your way who need to hear about how you made it through and the reason for your hope!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to this video and lyrics.