“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
My life had been blessed and somewhat sheltered as I lived in a cocoon. Then bit by bit that cocoon began to unravel. Unexpected experiences and circumstances made me venture into a world full of hurting people. God interrupted my pleasant life and began to test me and stretch me. I didn’t even realize that God was going to force me to walk in the shoes others had walked in. This exposed my heart to pain I had never experienced. It took what I knew as compassion and stretched it into a much deeper love than I had ever known. A series of events and changes that could have been viewed as disastrous turned out to be a time of pruning and growth. I still don’t see the fruit I hope to see but my faith is strong and I know who holds my future.
I am not the only one God has done this to, He knows the whole story of our lives and interrupts our lives to prepare us for what He has planned for our lives. We will explore a few of the people this has happened to.
Joseph was a well loved child who was sold by jealous brothers. His life was interrupted at a young age. He was thrown into a pit, falsely accused and forgotten. He had every reason to be full of anger and contempt. He had every reason to fall into his own pit of misery, rejection and pity. He choice to hear God’s voice and lived to see himself a leader and reconciled with his family.
Moses was set afloat into a river as an infant by a broken hearted mother who was trying to save his life. He was raised with privilege in a palace and highly educated. Something in him snapped and he reacted when he saw a slave mistreated. Confused and afraid he ran from everyone and hid. Then God interrupted his life with a burning bush. Moses went on to lead a nation to freedom.
Paul was doing his best to be a Jewish leader and thought he was serving God. Then he had an encounter that left him blind. This was just the beginning of a lifetime of interruptions that would include imprisonments, beatings, a shipwreck and trials most of us will never see. He went on to serve God in a most powerful way.
My story is far from being as dramatic as the examples above. God has different plans for each of us. He has a plan for you. The time you spend as a caregiver might just be the interruption God uses to lead you to greater area of ministry. The lessons you learn may be preparation for what is next. This time may simply be a time of learning to trust God and a time to build your faith.
Everyone made sacrifices and felt pain in the above examples. I do not promise you a world free of suffering and full of instant gratification. I do promise you the interruptions brought by God are worth it! Trust His plan.
I leave you with one reminder. God interrupted one man’s life just moments before his death. He hung on a cross next to the only answer all of us need. A conversation began between him and Jesus that went like this.
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Don’t ignore God’s interruptions. They bring you life, even if it is the last interruption you respond to. Listen to God’s voice. Grow through what He teaches you. Trust God to light your path moving forward.
Word for Today
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Prayer for Today
Dear God,
I thank you for sending Jesus so that I can have true life. Help me to listen when you interrupt my life. When I listen, give me patience to wait on you. Help me to grow into who you designed me to be. Help me to lay aside my plans and trust you to be the light unto my path.
Amen
Song for Today
Walking Them Home 