God surprised me with a baby when I least expected it.

At the time, I was the mother of three teenagers, just dipping a toe into my forties, watching doors open to exciting new ministry ventures. I never imagined a giant step backward to morning sickness, maternity clothes and mothering a newborn.

My “caboose kiddo” arrived on Christmas Eve 2000. All through December I thought of another woman named Mary – a young girl, really – whose life was interrupted by a divinely ordained pregnancy thousands of years ago.

Hers was a divine interruption … but mine?

I didn’t think so.

As writers, we plot the lives of our imaginary characters. We devise Inciting Incidents. Plan Disappointments and Disasters that all lead to inevitable Black Moments. We interrupt our characters lives so they’ll learn the spiritual truths they need to embrace on their way to happily-ever-afters.

But what about us?

Our lives include disappointments and yes, disasters – even Black Moments when we wonder if God has lost sight of us or possibly even turned his back on us.

Do we consider such moments divine interruptions?

Instead of stumbling around asking “Why?” or “why me?” – both questions I’ve thrown at God when he’s interrupted my life – could we instead ask “Where are you in this, God?”  During those moments that where God disrupts our plans, could we keep looking until we find him? He’s there … because he promises never to leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6). And never means just that: never.

It’s not that we don’t doubt during those moments of divine interruption. Our imaginary characters doubt. So do we. But may we never doubt God’s presence and his provision. May moments of interruptions – both the imaginary ones in novels and our real life ones – cause us to walk, run, even stumble to God’s throne of grace to receive his mercy and grace in our times of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

May we recognize the divine touch of God in the interruptions in our lives. Those moments aren’t mistakes … and yes, from God’s perspective they are eternal. May disruptions become opportunities to meet God in a more intimate way, knowing he’s got this – and more importantly, he’s got us.

When have you seen an interruption as more than an inconvenience – and discovered God in a new way?

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