What Do You Get When You Interrupt Jesus?

Interruptions used to make me crazy.

I like to feel, every day, that I’ve “accomplished something.” Interruptions interfere with that sense of accomplishment.

Modern life management advice is geared around goal setting. Know what you want to achieve. Set goals. Create objectives. Avoid distractions. Minimize interruptions. Accomplish goals. Enjoy success.

Sounds like a beautiful plan.

In fact, some people advise determining five-year plans. This has become the rage not only for individuals but also for churches and ministries. And, for the most part, I agree that goal-setting is worthwhile.

But, while listening to the audio version of the gospels in my car, I’ve been struck with how many of the stories the gospel writers tell about Jesus revolve around interruptions.

I can’t imagine anyone accusing Jesus of not being goal-oriented but His days don’t read like someone “trying to accomplish something.” Most of the great stories we know of His life appear to result from interruptions.

Jesus was enjoying a wedding in Capernaum when His mom interrupted Him with their wine-shortage problem. His first miracle was in response to an interruption. A Pharisee named Nicodemus sought Jesus out after dark, interrupting whatever other plans Jesus had, to learn that he must be born again.

On the way to Galilee, Jesus paused at a well and asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. She asked Him questions and an interruption became an open door for the Samaritans to the gospel. On His way to heal Jairus’ daughter, a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years interrupted Jesus. He not only healed her, He took the time to stop and speak with her.

A sinful woman interrupted during a Pharisee hosted meal for Jesus to wash His feet with her tears, anoint them with perfume, and put her love for Him on display. Jesus announced that her story would be remembered always.

The gospels are rife with interruptions and you have to believe that Jesus’ original agenda for every day was never anything banal or useless to begin with but still, He never blinked at an interruption.

We know Jesus made a habit of rising early to pray and we know He traveled the countryside preaching and healing. We know He was in great demand but He greeted interruptions as opportunities, trusting them as divine appointments.

Looking at even more Biblical stories through this lens, we find God is constantly interrupting someone’s life with His own plans for them.

He interrupted Moses with a burning bush. He interrupted Joseph with time in a pit and a prison. He interrupted Esther when she was taken for the king’s harem. Mary and Joseph, He interrupted in their plans to marry and enjoy a simple life. He interrupted Paul on the way to Damascus.

None of them had five-year plans for their ministries or even their lives. Many of them did make paying attention to God their daily goal.

Here’s the take-away for me: My chief goal in life is to make myself available to God every day – to show up before Him in prayer, in study of His word, in obedience, and in listening to His Holy Spirit. 

So then, I can trust that what I see as interruptions are divine appointments.



I believe I should work toward the “greater goals” I’ve prayerfully developed but with an awareness that God is in the NOW. He IS in this moment and if I want to be with Him, I must be HERE, not pressing on to the next moment while He lingers with a soul in need of Christ. It seems pretty wrong to tap my toe impatiently while Jesus chats with someone who is interrupting my progress toward my goals.

Jesus drove the disciples a little crazy with His constant attention to interruptions. I’m right there with them. Drives me nuts, too. That’s because I want my life to “look like something.” But, making my life “look like something” doesn’t even show up on Jesus’ to-do list.

What would happen if tomorrow you asked God to open your eyes to the opportunities in the interruptions? I’ve been doing that more and more – releasing my need to “feel accomplished” and making myself available to God in the moment.

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” I have to believe that not all those who are interrupted are off-task.

Try it right now. Embrace the interruptions. Not sold yet? Read one of the gospels and count the times a story is based on an interruption in Jesus’ day. Explore the freedom of the ministry of interruptions. Dare to be like Jesus and put your day into the hands of the Master.

What do you get w hen you interrupt Jesus?

A divine appointment, a glimpse of God, the hands, feet, and heart of the gospel, the kingdom of God here and now.

The Westerly Sun has a fun interview about my book and photos of my favorite writing spot this week in The Easy Chair. I’ve also just added a new workshop to my speaking list – “Jesus and the Beanstalk – our faith is no fairy tale.” Visit my speaking page and contact me to speak at your next event!

What do you get when you interrupt Jesus? http://t.co/yt6uQQeMv0 #liveinthenow #amwriting #Jesusisherenow #Jesus

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) May 3, 2015