Rearranged Schedules and Interrupted Lives

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21, ESV)

My friend laughs at my list-making and calendar-keeping ways. She does neither. Oh, she sometimes tries to write things down, but just as frequently she forgets to pick up her list as she heads out the door. When she does remember, she will proudly announce, “I have a list!”

For the truly structured person, an interrupted schedule can be frustrating. Interruptions will come; that’s just life. When our plans go awry, we can let it irritate us or we can wait to see what good might come out of the situation. That interruption just might be a God thing in the making. It has happened to me and probably has happened to you also.

JOSEPH

Joseph was just a teenager when his life plans were suddenly altered. His jealous older brothers sold him to a passing company of Ishmeelites (Genesis 37) and allowed their father to think he had died. For the next several years, Joseph’s circumstances did not look like something orchestrated by God, but they were. Later he could say to those same brothers, “God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:7, CSB).

ESTHER

Esther, a Jewish orphan who had been taken in by her cousin, was now of marriageable age. Perhaps her cousin already had his eye on a suitable Hebrew man for her. Or that’s how life should have gone. Instead, Esther, along with other young women, was taken into the palace and groomed as a possible choice for the Persian king’s new queen.

Regardless of who became queen, Esther would never be allowed to return to her previous life. How could this ever be a God thing? But it was. God placed her in the right place at the right time to save her people. She was there “for such a time as this” (Esther 4).

PHILIP

Philip was active in the Jerusalem church, one of the seven selected to care for the widows (Acts 6). Later we see Philip preaching in the city of Samaria where large crowds witnessed mighty miracles of deliverance and healing. Many were baptized, and as he was joined by Peter and John, the Spirit was poured out on the Samaritans. Revival was in the air (Acts 8)!

Then an angel appeared with instructions leave of town. Now? During this great revival? Was it for another great citywide revival? No. It was to talk to one man traveling in a chariot. Only one man. And after Philip baptizes that man, the story stops. We are not told the impact of that one man’s conversion. We do know it was important enough to interrupt Philip’s ministry in Samaria.

I could tell you stories of other interrupted lives—Ruth and Naomi, Daniel, Moses, Paul, John the Revelator, and many others. Yet, in many of these stories, long periods of time passed before the purpose behind the interruption was revealed.

Are things happening in your life that cause you to question, “What’s happening here, Lord?” They may not be major upheavals like Joseph and Esther experienced, but it’s enough for you to feel out of control. Your life has been disrupted. Can you trust the process even when you don’t know the whys? Can you view the interruptions not as aggravations but as possibilities and opportunities? Can you believe that God is at work?

Psalm 138:8 assures us that “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.” God has a plan, and He will fulfill that plan. Trust Him.

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” (Isaiah 14:24, ESV)

Lord, increase my faith and help me to relinquish control of my life to You. Rather than feeling unsettled and fearful, help me to feel Your peace in times of interruption and change. I know that even when I cannot see the future, I’m in Your hands. Fulfill Your purpose for me.