God Doesn’t Play Jenga

Have you ever played the game called Jenga? It consists of a set of 54 small boards or sticks of wood. The pieces are stacked in rows of 3 with each layer placed at a right angle to the previous layer. The stack of sticks is quite stable when you are finished.

The name Jenga comes from a Swahili word meaning “to build.” The object of the game is to remove sticks from lower levels and place them carefully on top to create a new layer without collapsing the entire tower. Each time a player removes a stick it compromises the stability of the original structure. Eventually the tower can’t stand anymore stress and comes tumbling down in a heap of rubble. Game over.

I was thinking about that game and comparing it to how God builds our lives. He starts with each layer and carefully puts each new stick in exactly the right order and position. He is building something that will last for eternity.

Unfortunately, sometimes we are not content to let God do the building. We see the sticks and they each have labels. One says “finances”, another says “marriage.” Others say “relationships,” “health,” and “career.” We think we know what our own needs are better than anyone else.

We may look at that tower that God is making with the priorities in our lives and we can be tempted to start making decisions about where He has placed each one. We start taking out sticks and placing them on top. We start deciding for ourselves which things go where and what importance they hold. And all the while, we are weakening the structure that God has designed.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” – Psalm 127:1  (NASB)

Best to let the Father do the building and not try to play Jenga with Him. He knows exactly where to place each piece and His creation will never collapse. Trust Him with your life and you will be amazed at what He will do!