Sacred Interruptions

What is your immediate reaction to an interruption or disturbance in your life?

We live in a world full of all kinds of interruptions—the good and the bad, the simple and the complicated, the ones that barely register and the ones that cost us time, energy, and emotional margin; the welcomed interruptions and the unwelcome ones.

Jesus was no stranger to interruptions during His ministry. In fact, in the book of Matthew alone, there are 44 recorded moments when His day was redirected by the needs of others. And in every one of these encounters, Jesus treated the interruption as an invitation—an opportunity to look into someone’s heart and meet them with compassion. He didn’t view these disturbances as inconveniences to His greater objectives; He saw them as extensions of His purpose.

As we move into this full and festive season, we can expect to be interrupted more than normal. And it’s inevitable that these disruptions might lead to frustration, missed opportunities, or the temptation to lose sight of what matters most. But what if Jesus’ approach could disciple us in the way of interruptions—not simply helping us manage them better, but transforming the way we see them altogether?

Every interruption—each detour, delay, and unexpected need—is not random but a God-ordained opportunity: to see Jesus, to become like Him, and to extend His love to others. And in a season where tasks and daily demands shout the loudest, may every interruption become a holy summons, turning our hearts toward Jesus and realigning our day to His priorities.

“Interruptions are not distractions from your real work, they are the real work. The sooner you accept that, the sooner the insecurity and frustration lifts.” (Andrew Tarnow)

What would change if you paused in your next interruption and asked, “How is Jesus at work here?”