Embracing Interruptions

Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Some days feel like a continuous string of interruptions. From the moment my feet hit the floor in the morning, I ping-pong from diaper changes to unexpected deadlines to snack cleanup to requests that upend my entire agenda for the day.

On days like this, when productivity feels impossible and interruptions multiply, I remind myself of how Jesus handled distractions. He didn’t turn little children away; he welcomed them onto his lap (see Mark 10:13-16). He didn’t scold the bleeding woman who touched the hem of his garment while he was on his way to Jairus’s home. Instead, he healed her (see Luke 8:40-48). Jesus was the ultimate example of how to handle interruptions with grace and purpose.

In Mark’s Gospel, we see a glimpse into Jesus’ relationship with the Father while he was on earth. “Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Though we aren’t given many details in this short verse, we know Jesus intentionally woke up early and went to a solitary place to spend time with his Father and pray. The quiet never lasted, though, because right after this, Jesus faced the same thing you and I face: interruptions. “Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, ‘Everyone is looking for you’” (verses 36-37).

Jesus understands how it feels to be interrupted when spending time alone in prayer. Jesus didn’t rebuke Simon for interrupting his solitude. He didn’t snap at his disciples or complain about how they interrupted his quiet time. He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (verse 38). Jesus responded with patience, grace, and purpose. He tended to their needs and reminded them of his mission—and theirs.

This morning I woke up before anyone else in the house with the intention of reading God’s Word. After pouring my coffee, I grabbed my Bible from the end table and sat down on our well-worn couch. Like clockwork, I heard a thump upstairs, a door open, and a little voice at the top of the stairs whispering, “I want to come snuggle downstairs.”

My children have a sixth sense for when I need alone time or time with God. In those moments when everything within me wants to turn them away, I’m reminded of the grace of Jesus. Sometimes I do tell them to play in their room while I spend time in God’s Word, and sometimes I invite them to sit and read with me. I don’t always respond with grace, but God always extends his grace anyway.

Perhaps the distractions we face when reading God’s Word are his whispers to us to slow down and remember that we need him. Maybe the child who calls for us when we are working or the friend who asks to chat when we are heading somewhere is his ministry for us today.

When seen through the eyes of Christ, interruptions aren’t delays or intrusions at all; they are opportunities to live out the Word and follow the footsteps of our King.

Word before World Interruptions are inevitable, but by God’s grace, we can see them as opportunities to live like Christ, love others, and trust God with each moment.

Grow in Grace How do you typically respond if you’re interrupted when you are reading the Word? Ask the Lord to cultivate a spirit of patience and joy in you so you can respond in a way that honors him.