Purposeful Living

3 Insights for Showing Grace When Your Plans Are Interrupted

Dawn came too early today—like an interruption after a night that went too fast.  As the first rays of light poured through the windowpane, I asked God to help me with showing grace throughout the upcoming day.

I went to bed late thinking about writing projects, our child’s science fair project, and what I was going to send to school for snack day. My mind raced for hours.  When dawn came too soon, I had no desire to race into anything.

I brushed my teeth thoughtlessly, and the impending nature of my to-do list weighed me down.

Showing Grace When Your Plans Are Interrupted

I raced through my daily routine of Bible reading and coffee without a single prayer. Little footsteps stirred before I finished checking the weather forecast.

Six-year-old Bekah awoke first, and for this I was thankful. Once her little brother Caleb hits the ground, quiet moments cease.

My sweet girl smiled at me sleepily and sat down to watch cartoons.

My heart smiled watching her, and then I returned to my to-do list.

The morning progressed at the same pace.

Several hours later, sometime near ten o’clock in the morning, I was halfway through writing an article when Caleb toddled over and asked me a hopeful question.

“Creek today?” he asked.

A trip to the creek wasn’t on my to-do list, and I considered my options.

I’m not good at embracing interruptions.

3 Insights for Showing Grace Amid Interruptions

I wish my kids were never interruptions.  Sadly, my personality often leads me to focus on tasks over people—even the people I love most.

I sat with Caleb’s question and thought about showing grace.

“Sure, buddy,” I finally answered.  “Let’s head to the creek.”

We spent the afternoon searching for frogs and building sandcastles.  As I reflected on it later, the trip reminded me of several truths about what happens when we choose grace amid interruptions.

If you want to grow in showing grace, too, these insights are for you:

1. Show grace amid interruptions often leads to refreshment.

After our trip to the creek, I am fully refreshed, and memories are made.

Surprisingly, the interruption refreshed my soul and refocused my mind on what matters most.

All too often, God sends an interruption, and his purpose is to slow me down.  His purpose is to invite me into the fully present, un-rushed life I crave.

When I brush aside an interruption instead of receiving it, I often miss an opportunity to align my steps with the steps of the Spirit.  And when I’m in step with the Spirit, I am plugged into a source that keeps me refreshed, even in the fullest of seasons.

2. When we show grace in interrupted moments, God blesses us.

Returning home, Caleb naps, and Bekah and I embrace an hour of individual quiet time.

In one short hour, I write more words with a refreshed soul than I would have written in four hours earlier in the day.

I’m surprised the interruption fueled me.  What felt like a waste of time was actually an invitation to refocus, which enabled me to increase productivity and multiply my time later in the day.

3. Life’s interruptions aren’t interfering with your calling; they are your calling!

I often think about Jesus walking from town to town.

I think about his destination and the reality that nearly every interaction along the road was an interruption.  Again and again, he was interrupted for the purpose of bringing glory to God through his interactions with others.

Unlike me, Jesus wasn’t disgruntled by interruptions. He lived amid interruptions and embraced them.  The interruptions didn’t stop him from fulfilling his calling; they were his calling.

~~~

As I finish typing, a six-year-old stands at my side with a coloring book. Time to embrace another beautiful interruption.

A Free Devotional Book to Help You Embrace Your Calling

I have a gift for you today.  For a limited time, I invite you to download and read a chapter of my powerful book, Lean Into Grace, right here.  This chapter will help change the way you see the work God has placed in front of you and inspire you to show grace as you seek him in this work.  Download this chapter for free with promo code GRACE right here.  I pray it blesses you!

Attention, all moms and daughters!

Lastly, in addition to writing to adults, I am also passionate about ministering to the next generation.

My (now) 12-year-old daughter Bekah and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book together.  We hope to help moms and daughters connect and grow in faith together.  Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section.

Our vision is for girls ages 7-17 to enjoy it with their moms, grandmas, or older women they look up to.  However, mothers and daughters of all ages are using this book to grow closer together!  This book makes a wonderful gift for a mother or daughter you care about!

You can buy your paperback or eBook on Amazon right here.

 

 

 

I’m passionate about equipping others to encounter God in powerful and life-changing ways. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me hiking, jogging, exploring wild places with my three young children and husband, leading small groups, and mentoring younger women. A certified special education teacher, I am on leave from the classroom for a season of chasing frogs and playing in creeks with my little ones. Most of all, the compassionate love of Jesus has forever ravished my heart, and I'm emphatic about making his love known to the world.