Have you ever tried to solve a Rubik’s Cube, or just looked at one and thought what a hopeless jumble it seemed? Here are five things I learned about faith and trust in God when I finally learned how to make sense of the mystery.
1. There’s a lot to learn in order to succeed in life, but I can do it with the right guidance. I had no idea how to solve a Rubik’s Cube. It seemed impossible. But then my nephew learned how to do it, and then my son. Then someone gave me a cube, and I decided to give it a try. I got advice from my son on which teaching website to use. He encouraged me along the way. I slowly learned the steps and algorithms as I studied, and made gradual progress until I was able to do it! Slowly at first, but improving each time. This reminds me of how I learn to live life in a healthy way from the Bible and the Holy Spirit, with the encouragement of friends and a community like a LifeGroup. With faith and trust in God everything is clearer.
2. Trust the process. When I’m solving the cube, in the beginning, things get better quickly, but then they look like they’re getting a lot worse again before the cube is finally solved. I have to trust the steps and algorithms rather than my eyes. When we first come to trust Christ, there is an initial great joy. Then trials can come in and try to steal some of that joy. Sometimes life looks like a big mess—but God is always working, and He will make things right in the end—sooner or later. Some things will never be fixed like we’d like them to be in this life, but for sure at the end, He will make all things new and all things right. I need to keep walking by faith, not by sight, to the very end. Faith and trust in God mean I believe He knows what He is doing and it’s something eternally good.
3. Practice makes progress. As I persevere in spending a few minutes each day practicing my new cube-solving skills, I shave seconds off my best time. As I spend time in the Bible and in prayer each day, and as I share honestly and serve together with other Christians each week, I get to go deeper in my relationship with God. It just makes sense. Keep getting to know Him better and your faith and trust in God will grow!
4. Cheating is not as satisfying as doing the right thing. Solving a Rubik’s Cube is hard. Some people get so frustrated that they’re tempted to peel the stickers off and stick them on in another place to make the colors match. Or just to take the whole thing apart and put it back together. But if you do that, you cheated. You didn’t solve anything, and the cube might be ruined. Life is hard, too, no doubt about it! But cutting corners and leaving the right path for one that seems easier leaves you empty. It’s worth the hard work to listen to God’s promptings and walk on His path. You’ll have much more satisfaction and peace even in the difficulty. Faith and trust in God is not something we leave behind when the going gets tough—it’s precisely then that we need it the most.
5. Old doesn’t mean out of date. The Rubik’s Cube was created in 1974 and had its heyday in the 1980s. But look! It’s back again and being enjoyed by more people than ever. The Bible was written long ago, but it’s just as relevant as ever. The Bible’s wisdom never goes out of style.
I never expected to learn about faith and trust in God through a Rubik’s Cube, but isn’t that just like God to use an ordinary object to point to His extraordinary glory? He can use everyday moments to lead us back to Him. So what moments in your life might be pointing you to God? You might be surprised at what wisdom you can find when you ask God to reveal Himself to you in big and small ways.
