Interruption.
Do you like it?
I’m not a fan.
When I am working on something, I get in a zone and an interruption can just completely shatter my zone. When my zone is shattered, I get irritated! My family has been the source of interruption a time or two and confession – they have seen the frustration that mounts within me. It is something I pray about fairly often because I never want my children to see themselves as an interruption to my life. Anyone with me on this prayer?!
A few weeks ago, I was listening to a speaker in my Perspectives class that I am taking. The speaker challenged us to pray, “Lord, interrupt my day.”
That’s a dangerous prayer.
Truthfully, I did not want to pray that prayer. I have a tight schedule that I like to keep. But every time I’m in Egypt, I am amazed at the hospitality of their culture and their willingness to be interrupted by complete strangers coming into their house.
I also know that God can often use interruption as a means of waking you up to Himself.
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In Matthew 9, Jesus is busy teaching in the synagogue when a man interrupts him to beg Jesus to heal his daughter. Instead of seeing this man as an interruption, Jesus looks on him with love and compassion.
He sees the person and the pain, not the intrusion.
Jesus leaves with the man to go heal his daughter, but on the way, Jesus is interrupted again! A woman, who had a bleeding disorder for 12 years, meaning she was an outcast of society, interrupted Jesus by touching the hem of His garment. Instead of seeing this woman as an interruption, Jesus looks on her with love and compassion.
He sees the person and the pain, not the intrusion.
In both accounts, the interruption brings healing and restoration, not frustration and anger.
Oh Lord, help me!
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So this week, as an interruption came my way, my instinct was to feel irritated. But I sensed that this interruption was one from God. So I put down what I was doing and walked out the door.
Instead of being irritable and rushed, the minutes alone were like a sanctuary that I had entered into.
Alone with God.
Recently, I have felt pretty overwhelmed by the amount of things going on and to keep track of. My tendency is to just push past the emotion and get the job done. Check lists are my go-to. God, who intimately knows me, could see beyond the lists and distraction and knew I needed an interruption. It was small and only took 30 minutes of my time, but it was sweet because in the interruption, God drew me back to himself and reminded me that He sees me, His daughter.
The interruption brought peace and strength to my weary soul. He woke me up to Himself.
God always knows what’s best.
So here’s what I’m praying, and perhaps you’d like to join me in praying this as well. I’m praying that when I am interrupted, I am able to respond in love instead of irritation. And I am praying that God, who is my Lord and master, will interrupt me whenever He wants to draw me closer to Him.
Lord, interrupt my day.
“Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment” Matthew 9:22.
