While scrolling Instagram, as I am apt to waste more time than I care to admit doing, I recently came across a post by Ian Simkins. He was talking about the miracles of Jesus and how more than half of the miracles noted in the Bible were interruptions.

Jesus was often on his way somewhere or in the middle of another activity. He was teaching to a crowd when a man was lowered through the roof. He was on his way to Samaria when the 10 lepers called out. He was enjoying a wedding when the wine ran out. 

This observation gave me pause. One of favorite scriptures is Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  

I love the idea of pausing and being still. I love the idea of meditating on God and his glory. I sometimes even scratch out a few moments in the car or before I drift off to sleep. I would love to do it more often, but I work full time. I am a mom to three children. I teach Sunday school. I travel to soccer games each weekend. I have aging parents who need my help. I plan and I schedule and I create agendas and to-do lists to keep all these balls in the air.

And I really want my faith to fit into that agenda. But this is not what Jesus shows us.

As Ian Simkins pointed out, Jesus often changed paths, altered his plan and took time out for people.  And I see that perhaps, being still and knowing he is God is going to happen during a soccer game, while I’m at work or when I’m helping a child with homework.  

Maybe I need to be willing to be interrupted on the road to my destination, or while I’m teaching Sunday school or even in the midst of parenting tasks. Perhaps the stillness needed is not always going to come right on my schedule and during my agenda.

To quote Mr. Simkins, “For a lot of us, we have room for God in our hearts but not our calendars. Be open to the interruptions. Efficiency is good but it’s a terrible god.”  

Let’s remember this as we begin our checklists and tasks. Let’s look at the interruptions and take a moment to be still and see what God is showing us. Let’s look at those people who pop up in inconvenient moments and see them through the eyes of Jesus.

Let’s be still – in God’s time, not ours. 

Written by Elisabeth Sabella, foster care home development supervisor for Buckner Children and Family Services in Longview, Texas.

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