I get aggravated when things don’t go as I plan. Like preparing a meal only to find out that my husband ate the same thing for a business lunch. Or when I’m doing my normal work and difficulties keep making the easy task impossible. Even when I’m expecting and waiting for some great experience, I get irritated when it doesn’t happen on my timetable. Like when I prayed for and got pregnant. I really wanted this child, but it was Labor Day and we had planned a steak dinner. Going into labor was not on the calendar. And Christmas. The extra rush of the season—decorating, cooking, gifting, and partying, just doesn’t fit into my already busy schedule. Surely I’m not alone in my frustration when life is interrupted.
That’s when I read about three people whose lives were interrupted in a major way.
- In Luke 1 Zechariah went about his duties as a priest when the angel Gabriel showed up and changed his life forever. He was struck speechless when he questioned God about the promise of a child and because of his doubt he would remain silent until the birth. If I was Zechariah desiring a son, I would be somewhat irritated at the situation surrounding this child and being struck dumb. How could I tell anybody?
- Elisabeth, his wife, had her life changed as well. Imagine desiring for so long to have a child, and then in old age with a wordless husband, she finds herself pregnant. I’d go into seclusion too.
- I read further where a young girl’s life took an extreme twist. She was engaged and preparing to be wed, when Gabriel shows up and tells her she would get pregnant and give birth to a special boy—God’s son. Talk about wedding changes. Life interruption!
All throughout the Bible and even today, God interrupts normal lives. I’m glad these ordinary people allowed God’s disruption. Their life intrusion gave me salvation. I will put away my irritations and embrace my life interruptions. Off to celebrate Christmas—the best interruption of all.
What interruptions and irritations can you celebrate this Christmas? Leave a thought or comment.
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Our son stays up later than my wife and I do and we have a small place. I am one of those people who really and truly needs his sleep. I ask God to help me get back to sleep and sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no. I try to refocus my attention and realize that our nearly 19 yr old college student won’t always be here and we will probably all look back fondly at being awake at 1 or 2 am or later with our son, whatever the mood. Then, during the time I’m normally awake I listen to music I like including songs that some might be surprised to find God’s message in like, “When Love Comes To Town” by U2 & BB King – http://tinyurl.com/BMW3021
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Merry Christmas!
Charlie (BigManWalking)
Thank you for the reminder, Robin. There are so many times I want everybody to just leave me alone and let me work on what I feel God has called me to do…
And then I realize perhaps He’s called me to do exactly what that interruption entailed–stopping, responding, and taking the interruption as evidence of His perfect will.
But it’s still hard, especially when it’s not an enjoyable interruption. Let’s pray that both of us see His fingerprints on the interruptions of our lives.
Love,
Vonda
Charlie, I loved the U2 & BB King song, and I joined the Advent Conspiracy. Merry Christmas to you too!
And Vonda, I need to pray much more. The endless things that pop up out of nowhere must have some good in them. Yes, let’s look for God’s fingerprints on all our interruptions.