If your
life is anything like mine, it’s pretty well planned out. I have a calendar
that reminds me of appointments, meetings, and other “to-do” items. Inevitably,
interruptions change my day dramatically; and while they can be frustrating,
they also can be productive.
Some of
the great advances in God’s plans have come through “interruptions” to the
normal routine. Take Mary, for example. An angel interrupted her life with the
announcement that she would have a son named Jesus. Since she was a virgin and
engaged to be married, this news was undoubtedly shocking and deeply troubling
(Luke 1:26-31). And
Saul, the Jewish zealot who persecuted early Christians, was on his way to
Damascus to arrest more followers of “the Way” when he was blinded by Jesus
Himself (Acts 9:1-9). This
life-changing interruption had huge implications for the future of
Christianity.
The
psalmist reminds us that the Lord can make “the plans of the peoples of no
effect” (Ps. 33:10). Yet
all too often we respond to the interruptions of our well-ordered lives with
attitudes like frustration, irritation, fear, and doubt. God’s surprises in our
day are full of opportunities. Let’s welcome them as a new “to-do list” from
Him.
Look for God’s
purpose in your next interruption. (RBC)
