Divine Interruptions

In life, we all face various interruptions. Maybe it’s the interruption of your morning plans. You were planning to sit quiet and enjoy a cup of coffee on your deck only to find out that your daughter unexpectedly needs a ride to work. Welp, there goes your peaceful thinking time. Maybe you’re working on a major deadline only to discover a hiccup that could cause you to miss your deliverable date.

Interruptions come in all different shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they present themselves as a light, “Excuse me.” Sometimes, they come as huge disruptions that cause things to be uprooted, pushed around, or readjusted. Then there are times when they are simply distractions that continuously nag at you, demanding you pay them attention.

The delicate line of discernment must be walked to determine the source of these interruptions because, as my good friend always says, “Everything ain’t the devil.” That’s right. Sometimes, God will divinely interrupt your life whenever he needs to get your attention, grow you through your current situations, and peel off some of the layers you cannot take into your next phase of life. And because he is sovereign, these interruptions don’t always look like what you may expect.

Take Nehemiah, for instance; he experienced what seemed to be all forms of interruptions during a period in his life. In the book of Nehemiah, chapter one, his life is interrupted when his brother comes to visit him and shares the state of the Jews who returned from captivity to Judah. The surrounding wall of Jerusalem had been torn down, and its gates burned. This news grieved Nehemiah badly, so much so his sleep was disturbed.

Now Nehemiah served as the king’s cupbearer, and I’m pretty sure he couldn’t just take off anytime he wanted. But this interruption was sent by God to shake up some things and position Nehemiah for the assignment that God had prepared for him. And as we know, where God guides, he provides. So, when Nehemiah prayed for favor with the king for time off to go back to Jerusalem to repair the wall, it aligned with God’s will and his provision.

God provided everything Nehemiah needed as he set off on the journey to repair the wall, and whatever wasn’t in place before he left was supplied as he continued to walk out his assignment. It seemed as if everything would go according to plan and smoothly until Nehemiah was met with distractions, aka Sanballat and Tobiah. They served one purpose and one purpose only, which was to discourage and ultimately stop Nehemiah AND the workers from rebuilding the wall, even to the point of threatening their lives. Clearly, this was just the enemy trying to derail Nehemiah’s God-given assignment.

Are you experiencing these types of distractions? You’re tending to your good Father’s business, and here comes distractions trying to pull your attention away from your assignment. In the beginning, you don’t pay them any mind, but then the distractions ramp up the ante, trying to provoke fear and anxiety in you and the crew assigned to help you, with the hope of making you quit and turn from the very thing God has called you to do.

Well, I’ve come to encourage you today to STAY ON THE WALL and finish the assignment. The enemy will use all kinds of tactics to make you move off your post, BUT DON’T DO IT. Someone is relying on your obedience to see this thing through. If you read a little further into the book of Nehemiah, you’ll see one of the most powerful prayers that Nehemiah uttered as he stood flat-footed in his assignment. He simply said, “Oh God, strengthen my hands,” Nehemiah 6:9b.

Because he was on his God assigned post, Nehemiah had the backing of God against his enemies. Because he stayed on his post, God reinforced Nehemiah’s strength to continue the work at hand, while God himself dealt with Nehemiah’s enemies. As a result of Nehemiah’s faithfulness, he went from being the cupbearer to the Governor of Jerusalem.

So, as you continue on your God-assigned path, remember some interruptions are divinely sent by God. And whenever you feel discouraged as you face down your enemies while on this assignment, remember Nehemiah’s prayer. Don’t come off your post, and allow God to strengthen your hand as you finish the work at hand.

As always, thank you for stopping by. I pray this message has been refreshing to your soul and spirit. Until next time… Be safe and Be well.