Interruptions! We all have them…Right?

I was actually interrupted trying to write this blog a couple weeks ago and am now just getting back to it!

Whether it’s daily interruptions like your child interrupting you while you are speaking on the phone…the school nurse calling and interrupting you in the middle of a work meeting to pick up your sick kid from school…or your puppy interrupting your sleep because he needs to go potty outside in the middle of the night. Ugh!

Whether it’s life interruptions like an unexpected job loss…an unforeseen medical diagnosis…or an unpredicted loss of a loved one.

Daily interruptions can be hard…and life interruptions can be harder!

What immediately pops into your mind when you hear the word “interruption”?

Inconvenient…frustration…irritation…annoyance…disappointment…even anger…hurt…or pain.

I am not sure when “interruptions” took on such negative terms as these…but that’s how we react and respond to interruptions.

The dictionary defines an “interruption” as “something that causes an activity to stop, break off or cease; the act of breaking the uniformity or continuity of; the state of changing or stopping the sameness or smoothness of something.”

And that’s exactly what interruptions do! They stop something. They stop us in the midst of that “something” we are doing…with no consideration of time and/or importance of that “something.”

Even though interruptions can be brief and temporary and your day may return right back to the normal…Interruptions can sometimes be permanent and life changing to the point that life is never the same again.

Have you been interrupted lately?

Are you facing any daily or life interruptions today?

Did you know that Jesus was interrupted? All the time as a matter of fact!

The question isn’t about how Jesus was interrupted…but what happened when Jesus was interrupted? What happened in Jesus’ interruptions?

There is great significance in each instance that Jesus was interrupted in the Bible. Let’s take a quick look!

While on His way to heal Jairus’ young daughter, Jesus was interrupted by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. (Clearly an incurable disease) What happened in this interruption? She touched the hem of His garment and she was miraculously healed! (Luke 8:40-48)

While He was sleeping in the boat, Jesus was interrupted and woken up by His disciples who were afraid of a dangerous storm. (No one likes being awoken from sleep…even Jesus I’m sure!) What happened in this interruption? The disciples witnessed the power and authority of Almighty Jesus calming the winds and the storm right before their eyes! (Matthew 8:23-27)

While He was out of town, Jesus was interrupted by Mary and Martha who sent word for Him to come and heal their sick brother Lazarus. (Who actually went from sick to dead when Jesus finally arrived.) What happened in this interruption? Lazarus was raised from the dead and made alive in front of the disciples and a large crowd of people who witnessed Jesus’ power over death! (John 11:1-44)

While He was teaching in a home, Jesus was interrupted by four men who lowered their paralyzed friend from the rooftop of the house. (Talk about an interruption!) What happened in this interruption? The paralyzed man was healed and his sins were forgiven! (Mark 2:1-5)

While He was enjoying a dinner party, Jesus was interrupted by a “sinful” woman who began to pour expensive oil on Him and wiped it off with her hair. (She was actually a prostitute.) What happened in this interruption? The woman was given love and grace and her sins were forgiven! (Luke 7:36-50)

While He was passing through the city of Jericho, Jesus was interrupted by a Zacchaeus…a tax collector…who was up in a tree on the side of the road. (Anything to get a glimpse of Jesus!) What happened in this interruption? Jesus went to His house for dinner and Zacchaeus and his entire family were saved! (Luke 19:1-9)

While on His way to Galilee, Jesus was interrupted when passing through Samaria and meeting a Samaritan woman at the well. (She was drawing water at the unexpected time of 12noon.) What happened in this interruption? This woman who had a “bad” reputation received Jesus’ “living water” and because of her testimony many in the town became believers!

Oh and the list can go on of more examples of Jesus’ interruptions in the Bible!

So what actually happened in these interruptions?

When Jesus was interrupted…people were given love and grace…forgiven…healed…delivered… saved…and witnessed miracles!

Jesus’ interruptions were opportunities…not inconveniences, frustrations, irritations, or annoyances.

Interruptions can be powerful and can impact you and others in a negative way…or positive way. How do you choose to respond to interruptions?

What can you learn in your daily interruptions? What do you think Jesus is trying to teach you in your life interruptions?

I know it isn’t easy…because life interruptions can hit us hard and knock us down for a period of time…but we cannot stay down. With God’s strength, we can get back up!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT

Interruptions are opportunities. Your life interruptions go beyond your interruption…and beyond you.

How can we turn our interruptions into opportunities?

1.Surrender our agenda…our plans…to God’s will.  

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 NLT

2. Place the needs of others above our wants.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3 NASB

3. See our life’s purpose as ministry.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16 NIV

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

4.Make ourselves available to God.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 NIV 

The greatest and most important interruption in my life was the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

And I can say that this interruption is far from being an inconvenience… frustration… irritation…annoyance… or disappointment!

Many years ago while I was headed down a road of sin and destruction…Jesus interrupted my life. This interruption…this stopping point in my life…this break in my continual life of sin caused me to change my direction and walk down a different road…a road toward Jesus.

I chose to accept and embrace this interruption and give Him first place in my life. And I cannot begin to explain how this interruption has blessed me greatly and created many opportunities for me to serve and minister to others!

If you are a Christian today, then Jesus has interrupted your life. How impactful has this interruption been for you…and beyond you?

Whether we experience daily interruptions or life interruptions or Jesus interruptions…let’s accept and embrace our interruptions and allow God to turn them into opportunities today that affect us… and beyond us!

Reflection Points:

1. What immediately pops into your mind when you hear the word “interruption”?
2. How is the word “interruption” defined?
3. Are you facing any daily or life interruptions today? Did you know that Jesus was interrupted?
4. What happened in Jesus’ interruptions?
5. How do you choose to respond to interruptions? What can you learn in your daily interruptions? What do you think Jesus is trying to teach you in your life interruptions?
6. How can you turn your interruptions into opportunities?

Action Points:

1. The word “interruptions” has taken on such negative terms as inconvenient…frustration …irritation…annoyance…disappointment…even anger…hurt…or pain.
2. Jesus was interrupted all the time and there is great significance in each instance that Jesus was interrupted in the Bible. Review the above examples.
3. When Jesus was interrupted…people were given love and grace…forgiven…healed…delivered… saved…and witnessed miracles! Jesus’ interruptions were opportunities…not inconveniences, frustrations, irritations, or annoyances.
4. Interruptions can be powerful and can impact you and others in a negative way…or positive way. Interruptions are opportunities. Your life interruptions go beyond your interruption…and beyond you.
5. Review the above steps on how you can turn your interruptions into opportunities.