Confidence in Callingনমুনা

Calling and Interruption

It is so easy to be consumed with our own plans, whether at work or at home, going to the gym, a party, or even a wedding. We have our agendas in work, rest, and play, and interruptions inconvenience us and disrupt us—but they don’t have to. They can, if we choose to embrace them, transform barren ground and frustration into fertile ground for growth in God, portals for his presence to be experienced, and greater confidence in calling.

The call of God reverberates, resonates, and echoes in the ordinariness of daily life and can easily be overlooked. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together, “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and cancelling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks. . . .”

The Son of God was not immune to interruptions. On the contrary, those moments, it seems, are where some of his best-remembered work happened. His ministry started with an interruption when Jesus was at a wedding. It’s downtime, an opportunity to hang out, to chat and celebrate. Initially, it seems that Jesus is resistant to the interruption from his mum about a shortage of wine. “It’s not my problem or yours,” is his initial reply. However, his mother’s intuition is persistent, and the stage is set for heaven to break in. Water into wine—a sign that when Jesus declares he offers life to the full, he means it. 

Often, the most fascinating and interesting stories come as a result of being inconvenienced. Interruptions open doors for stories, adventures, and miracles; they are God’s invitation to enter more deeply into calling and the work of his kingdom.

Questions

How do you respond to being interrupted? Can you recall a time in your life when an ordinary moment was transformed by an interruption? How can you prepare yourself better to respond to heaven’s interruptions? 

Prayer

Lord God, I confess I so easily get caught up with my own agenda. Help me to recognize the important work you are doing and be confident to join in. Amen