Finding Grace in the Interruptions - Part 1

We had just moved into our rented house. After six weeks of packing up our house in Russia, and two weeks of living out of a suitcase, we could finally hang our clothes up in wardrobes, stock the fridge full of food, settle Nathaniel in a proper bed, and put our feet up. That first evening, after the kids had gone to bed, was pure bliss! I read a book, sipped my tea, and felt peace....at last.

However, commitments loomed on the horizon. Family from America were coming to see us for four days. It was lovely to see them, and so important for my kids to reconnect with their Grandad, but all I wanted to do was just to be left in peace and rest. The last thing I wanted to be doing was cooking meals every evening in a kitchen I barely knew, with ingredients I was still trying to stock up on and work out where to buy.

As I mentioned before in my post on journeys, I hate being unsettled. I long to be in a predictable routine, everything pre-planned and progressing smoothly throughout the day. I hear you laughing :-) Life just isn't like that, is it?

If we're serious about submitting our lives to God on a daily basis, then we must be prepared for the "interruptions" and "hindrances" He will send our way. And when the interruptions do turn up, we must train ourselves into the habit of greeting them not with frustration and anger but with a willing prayer for God's help to set aside our own plans and show us what it is He means us to do in this situation.

God sends us interruptions for many reasons:

•  Simply, He had other plans for our day and other tasks He wanted us to do.  
• "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19v21
• He might want to remind us that people and relationships are more important that to do lists and clean houses. 
• "For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbour as yourself"." Galatians 5v14   
• "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13v2
• He might want to teach us something, to train us to be more patient or more kind. 
• "Love is patient, love is kind....it does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered..." 1 Corinthians13v4,5

God wants us to stop trying to do everything in our own strength and trust Him that we can submit our schedules and to do lists to Him. I believe that if we are able to do that, then He is faithful and will ensure that the important things do get done in time, and perhaps some of the unimportant things will show themselves to be just that - unimportant. As we align ourselves more with Him, then our desires for our days will also align with His. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37v4.

Our job is to ask for His help to greet these interruptions gracefully, submitting to His agenda in our lives and not our own. It's really hard to do, especially when you're a task-oriented perfectionist, like me!

There is a caveat, though, I believe. Join me in my next post as we look at that.

Q: Do you get frustrated with  interruptions?

Q: What are your tips for dealing with interruptions with grace and patience?

I'd love to know your thoughts - do leave a comment!

Abide in Him!

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net / David Castillo Dominici

Linking up here: