When God Interrupts Your Plans

Imagine you are rushing through your day with a mental checklist running through your mind. You need to stop at the grocery store, pick up a prescription, answer a few emails, get home before dinner, and take care of the things that simply cannot wait. As you move from one errand to the next, someone stops you and begins to share a little about what they are going through. You notice their loneliness, their questions, or perhaps an obvious need for encouragement. You sense an opportunity to slow down, listen, and point them toward Christ—but you glance at the time and think, “I really don’t have time for this today.” So you offer a polite response, continue on your way, and move on to the next item on your list. The moment passes, and with it perhaps an opportunity God had placed directly in your path to share the hope of the gospel.

In our modern world, we are often more concerned with filling our days to the brim with tasks and appointments than we are with allowing disruptions for the gospel. We craft our schedules carefully, and when things interfere, our natural reaction is often frustration. However, we must recognize that we need to allow time to be interrupted for the sake of the gospel, shifting our perspective from seeing people as inconveniences to seeing them as divine opportunities.

The Biblical Model of Interruption

Jesus’ earthly ministry was characterized by purposeful interruptions. He consistently regarded people as valuable, never viewing them as inconveniences, even in urgent situations. A woman who endured twelve years of persistent bleeding boldly approached Jesus while He was on His way to heal the daughter of a synagogue leader named Jarius. In the face of Jarius’ pressing need, Jesus decisively paused to assist her, demonstrating God’s unwavering compassion and mighty power, even during what seemed like a delay.

Jesus took time to embrace the children brought to Him during His teaching, recognizing their inherent value, openness, and learning hearts. He expressed firm displeasure towards His disciples for trying to prevent them from approaching, as He understood that every individual, regardless of age or status, deserves attention and love. In that moment, Jesus seized the golden opportunity to bless the children, laying His hands upon them and imparting a message of hope. He illustrated the profound importance of caring for those who are of small stature and who may have little to offer, teaching His followers that true greatness lies in humility and kindness. This event stands as a timeless reminder for us to embrace the vulnerable and ensure that they always feel welcome and cherished in our communities. Jesus maintained a perfect focus on His mission without ever showing coldness towards those who crossed His path. He demonstrated that human needs do not derail God’s mission; rather, they often are the mission.

But it wasn’t only Jesus who modeled this.

In Acts 8:5-26, the Holy Spirit sovereignly directs Philip to leave a thriving ministry in Samaria and journey over a hundred miles along a seldom-traveled road to the desert of Gaza for a purpose that was not clear. While some may think it sounds like the devil rather than the Lord, it’s essential to recognize that God’s guidance is purposeful. One might initially feel tempted to say, “Not now,” “Not me,” or “Not there,” but it’s important to remember that God’s ways far surpass our understanding; His plans, thoughts, and timing are indeed much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In Acts 18:18-25, Priscilla and Aquilla confidently ministered alongside Paul in Ephesus as he reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue. When Paul departed Ephesus for Antioch, he strategically left the couple behind. Their decision to stay proved pivotal; had they traveled with Paul, they would have overlooked the chance to mentor Apollos, a gifted speaker from Alexandria with a deep understanding of the Scriptures. Priscilla and Aquilla dedicated time to training Apollos, who then emerged as a remarkable teacher in the region, nurturing the growth that Paul had initiated, especially in Corinth.

Growth Through His Divine Appointments

These divine appointments serve to mature us, teaching us how to share our faith “as we go” about our daily walk. When we receive people with Christlike love rather than treating them as obstacles to a schedule, we grow in spiritual maturity. We must learn to:

• Listen before speaking: Be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and turn your full attention to the people you are ministering to. What a wonderful witness it is to be fully engaged and not anxious about your schedule. It is rare that people receive that kind of focused attention.
• Be open to His will and Schedule: A delayed appointment, an unexpected request for help, or a chance conversation on a plane can all be doors God is opening. In consideration of eternal matters, our “to-do list” can wait.
• Allow flexibility: When we remain attentive, we realize that the person “interrupting” us is often the very ministry God has placed in front of us, challenging us to set aside our priorities for what He wants to accomplish. 

Readiness in Every Season

The Bible calls us to constant spiritual alertness. This leads to two vital questions for every believer:

• Are you ready in all seasons? As 2 Timothy 4:2 suggests, our readiness to share the truth should not depend on whether the time is convenient for us; rather, to be ready the moment the Lord requires it. In times of danger, as well as safety; in the church building, as well as outside of it; or when it is seasonable or unseasonable for us.
• Are you prepared to give an answer? 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts us to always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope within us. This involves thinking ahead of time about how to share our faith naturally and truthfully with different types of people.

There are many ways we can prepare. Here are some suggestions:

• In your own words, prepare and rehearse a simple, personal explanation of the gospel that conveys Jesus as the sovereign Creator; God as holy; every person a sinner; and Christ as the sacrificial lamb that died and rose again to restore sinners to the Father and bring eternal life to all who receive God’s grace through faith.
• Learn how the gospel transforms common human needs into praise that glorifies God. The gospel offers forgiveness in place of guilt, solace in times of suffering, hope in times of doubt, purpose where things seem meaningless, and speaks life into a world full of death.
• Learn how to transition to the gospel of hope in a fallen world. The Bible contradicts social ills in this world: abortion, homosexuality, anger, fear, hatred; and we can help the world see practical ways the gospel addresses them.

From Obstacles to Opportunities

What the enemy may intend as a distraction to steal our time, God intends for eternal good. As seen in the life of Joseph, what was meant for evil, God meant to save many people (Genesis 50:20). Similarly, Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things—including the inconveniences of our day—work together for good to those called according to His purpose.

When God changes your direction to focus on eternal matters, He eventually provides the time you need for earthly matters. Instead of feeling hindered by a change in plans, we can see His plan and ask, “Lord, how can I serve this person?” By embracing the ministry of interruption, we redeem the time and walk in wisdom toward those around us.