All relationships can be difficult at times, but they should not be destructive to our well-being. Learn the difference between a destructive pattern and a difficult season with this free resource, “Is This Normal? 15 Red Flags You May Be Missing in Your Relationships.”

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Please Interrupt Me

May 28, 2015

I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness.

Recently, I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never-ending to-do list.

As I was sitting at a stoplight a friend called me and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school’s uniform policy.

She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who’d just dropped her son off at school. She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.

Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him. But, the belt would be a problem. The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one. She lives over 20 minutes from the school.

As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right. That store has belts. That store has lunch food.

I was faced with a decision: Could I help?

If you’ve ever let busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions, read more of the story over at (in)courage today here.

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10 Comments
  1. Stacey W. Moore

    Mrs. Terkeurst,
    Thank-you I have learded so much from you. I took your class at Poverbs 31 and studied your bookWhat Happens When When Women Walk In Faith. I learned so much, that I can forget in an instant.

    Reply
  2. Cherlyn

    the incourage.me website is down 🙁

    Reply
  3. Tanja

    I feel stressed and overwhelmed much of the time for last year. All kinds of things have happened short side is my husband has stage 4 prostate cancer that has mastistized to his bones. We just found out in November of 2014. The worst there is. His mom lives with us and she dementia. Image everyday having to repeat what’s wrong with her son over and over. I just change the subject now. Then recently my daughter is battling her sons dad for total custody. He wants to take him away to another state away from everything he knows. Our grandson is 7. Then my oldest daughter just had to go ER for really high blood pressure. So, in all of that I felt really wrung out. My believer friends and family came to my rescue with the word of God and it pierced me. I have been a believer for many years and never had so much at once. This last year has tried me over and over. I can honestly say He God is the victor and I so need Him every second of everyday.
    I really appreciate your site. Thank you for your life struggles and I know that I’m not alone. God is good… All the time…

    Reply
  4. Lisa

    The incourage.me website is down. Would love to read the rest of the story. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Cheryl Johnson

    God gives us opportunities to serve others…we must take advantage of those opportunities…being to busy…we might just miss one of the greatest opportunities to be the hands and feet of JESUS…so think about that everyone…when you are faced with an opportunity. Make being the hands and feet of Jesus part of you life every day in every way.

    Reply
    • iliana

      I am a new stay at home mom. I am finding it hard to put things in the right perspective. My purpose of staying at home was to be with my little ones for their early years before school and to build a firm foundation earlier rather than later as God’s word ask us too. However I find myself feeling interrupted by my children. Oh I know it sounds bad. I am trying to balance the house and spend quality time with them but I feel they get the short end of the stick.
      We have a great family dynamic but I see where I can get frustrated easy with my 4 yr old who is trying her independent shoes on right now. I get overwhelmed by my 1, yr old who is so stinking adorable but very busy. I make all these great plans for us but get caught up in the planning. What. Results , is that the kids get left out. Then the house chores get in the way. What bother’s me the most is that I am fully aware of the mission field God has given me in my home. That I am the first example of Christ these babies will see. So why is it that I treat them as interruptions in my schedule? I walk around in guilt many days because I know even if I am planning activities for us it should come before spending quality time with these gifts God has given me. I am just overwhelmed with the thought of being there but not being there in the manner God may intend me to be. We have good days when I am fully engaged but more of the other days when mommy is trying get everything done. I desire prayer for guidance how to proceed and make this time in their lives a special and happy time of life for them. I feel that God allows them to come to me to ask to play or go to the park as interruptions in MY schedule to remind me that they are my mission field , my purpose right now, not clean laundry, or picked up home, or even interesting homeschool activities.

      Reply
  6. Dalia

    My husband my marriage and I are struggling like really bad. My husband mentioned filing for divorce today. I need prayers. Please. And if you could email me that would be fantastic as well. Please pray for us.

    Reply
  7. Anne

    I find it interesting that I am working through P. Shirer’s study of Jonah right now, which is all about interruptions. I think God is talking to me through that and through you. I am connecting the God Dots here. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. Wilma

    How did the ringing in your ears get? I have had ringing in my ears for a number of years. Just recently they put me on a blood thinner for AFib. The ringing has gotten so loud that it wakes me up. I have been told there is nothing they can do about it. I know nothing is to hard for God. Sure would love to have this gone!

    Reply
  9. Erica

    Awesome post! I have been getting frustrated with my husband lately for very minor things. I keep blaming it on my pregnancy hormones. Today, if I feel frustration building, I’m going to take the high road by stepping out of the room, collecting my thoughts, say a prayer, and then let him speak.

    Reply
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