Proverbs 16:9 - “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
How do you respond to interruptions?
If I'm being honest, they're not my favorite. Especially when I'm traveling.
On a recent trip, I arrived at the airport four hours before my flight home. It wasn't enough time to explore the city, so I made a simple plan: grab a coffee, settle in with a good book, and spend a little time doing something I've always loved - watching people and imagining the stories they carry with them.
Little did I know, God had a completely different plan.
I grabbed my coffee and went in search of a seat… that proved to be a challenging task in and of itself this day as there were none to be found. After walking up and down each terminal, I finally decided the only option was a seat on the floor by my gate.
Upon locating the only square floor space open, I sat down and began to look around. Interruptions: gate change, delayed flight, no place to sit and read! Then I remembered something I'd heard earlier that week: Interruptions often become divine invitations.
So instead of resisting the interruption, I decided to pay attention to it.
Then…because I was forced to sit and wait, I began to notice.
Not inconveniences. People.
As I looked around, I realized everyone in that airport was carrying something. Some carried backpacks and rolling suitcases. Others carried sleepy toddlers. Still others carried burdens no one else could see.
As I continued to watch, I realized I hadn't turned a page in my book for nearly thirty minutes.
My plans had been interrupted, but perhaps my interruption was exactly where God wanted my attention.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a young boy about nine years of age. He carried his little brother securely against his chest with the tenderness of someone much older than his nine years. His little brother, however, had other plans. He was not delighted in being carried… He squirmed and tried to escape, his movements led to his shirt being moved up to cover his neck and face. A gentleman watching this occur stood up and offered his seat to the older brother.
The first thing I noticed was the boy’s smile and polite manners. He quickly thanked the gentleman and sat down. However, before he had a chance to blink, his younger brother was off! He raced behind him with a smile and laughed as he stated, “you can’t run away!” The older brother wasn't annoyed. He wasn't embarrassed. He simply kept caring for his little brother. Over and over. There was no frustration in his face—only patience, gentleness, and love.
Finally, the older brother gently lifted his little brother into the stroller, buckled him in, and began pushing him around the terminal. The tears stopped. The struggle ended. The younger brother simply rested while someone stronger guided him where he needed to go.
As I watched the little boy finally rest in his brother's care, I couldn't help but smile.
Isn't that exactly what our Heavenly Father longs to do for us?
Sometimes He carries us when we're too weary to keep going. Sometimes He gently restrains us from running toward things that will hurt us. And sometimes He simply invites us to rest while He carries what we were never meant to carry alone.
Had my flight left on time, I never would have noticed them.
Had I found the perfect seat, I probably would have buried my nose in my book.
Had everything gone according to my plan...I would have missed one of God's sweetest reminders that day.
Perhaps the interruption you've been trying to escape is actually an invitation...
...to slow down.
...to notice.
...to encourage.
...to receive what God has been trying to show you.
What if the interruptions we try so hard to avoid are actually invitations to notice what God has been doing around us all along?
Because sometimes the greatest moments of God's presence aren't found after the interruption has passed...
...but in the middle of it.
