Interruptions are, at worst, an annoyance most of the time. There are millions of minor interruptions to our day, and they often change the course of the entire day. Consider that I am currently sitting here writing this post because my schedule was interrupted by a no-show appointment for therapy. I found myself asking, "What am I going to do with this free hour that I suddenly have?" The temptation to doomscroll on my phone is still strong. I am choosing to write my thoughts instead.
What happens when life gets interrupted?
Were you interrupted in a much more impactful way? Life gets interrupted! You found yourself impaled with a reality you cannot accept and have no ability to process. Something happened, and life as you know it has come to a screeching halt. This is not a commentary on the sudden loss of a loved one, although it certainly applies. Something else happened, a tragedy. You were betrayed and your life destroyed. An accident changed the way you have to live the rest of your life. You lost your job and have experienced financial ruin.
Did you dig your own hole?
Some dig their own metaphorical hole. Is that you? You were the driver, and you were under the influence or just at fault. You thought you could handle it, and before you realized it, you were chained to that vice, whatever it may be. You kept bad company and didn't know you were the getaway driver. You were there, and someone did something on impulse or used horrible judgment, and now your life is interrupted even though you were just a bystander.
Can an interruption actually be good?
Life gets interrupted and changed forever. That does not have to be a bad thing, and if it is a bad thing, it does not have to be bad forever. Interruptions bring great opportunity for change and growth. You can sit with the interruption and become angry, bitter, depressed, anxious, or frozen. There is a better option: using that interruption to grow and become stronger and better. Many interruptions bring us to the end, to that place often called "rock bottom." Life interruptions set you up with motivation to grow and to change. You are so uncomfortable that you know you cannot keep living the way you have been.
You are ready to do the work. You want to look in that proverbial mirror and ask the hard questions. You are ready to heal. You want to stop feeling the angst, anger, depression, and hopelessness. You want to sleep at night. You need peace. You are tired of fighting with others and yourself. You are ready to heal.
Whose lives did God interrupt in the Bible?
The Bible is filled with people whose lives were interrupted. There are examples of many types of interruptions. I think about Abigail in the Old Testament. Her husband behaved foolishly, and the not-yet-king David came after him, along with everyone in his household. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 25 if you are interested. Abigail understood the gravity of their situation and found a way to plead with David for their lives. Her husband Nabal did lose his life, but Abigail became the wife of a king and bore him a son.
Joseph's life was interrupted more than once, and he hadn't done anything wrong. He was sold into slavery by his brothers and then found himself an innocent man in prison. God, however, was positioning him to become the second-in-command in Egypt. You can find that story in Genesis 37-50.
Judas' life was interrupted by his own mistake, the betrayal of Jesus; Judas chose death over healing. Peter's life was interrupted around the same time as Judas. Peter made a terrible mistake, too, but he chose to seek forgiveness and healing. You can read about Peter and Judas in the Gospels.
Jonah has his own book in the Bible; you should read it. He dug his way into the belly of a really big fish and was there three days. Jonah was not digging his way out of that hole. Maybe you feel as if you are like Jonah, in a hole you know you will never dig your way out of. Jonah realized his sin and had himself thrown overboard because the ship was going to sink if he didn't. He was running from God and the assignment God had given him. Jonah asked God to save him, and God did. Jonah did what God told him to do and then became angry with God because God did what God wanted to do. He is a true character with an interrupted life. He went on after the first interruption to find himself sitting in the sun, angry with God, only to learn yet again of God's sovereign character.
Where can your interruption lead?
Have you considered that your interruption, regardless of its source, might be a sharp turn to something greater and more meaningful than you could have ever imagined? Have you considered the possibility that with God, your path can lead to otherwise impossible things? You are not hearing a prosperity gospel being taught here. There is no indication that Jonah became rich. Peter was, by tradition, crucified upside down. Still, their lives were radically changed and made better because God interrupted them and called them to serve Him.
You don't have to become the next Billy Graham, Brandon Lake, or anyone famous, for God to interrupt your life, heal you, and change your direction. You may keep your job, remain in your home, and grow in your relationship with your spouse and the rest of your family. Maybe you will even get to watch them grow with you.
There may be people who get upset with your improvement. Your growth may mean they end their relationship with you. You don't get to control them. They don't have to change. God's interruption in your life is for you, not them. It is your opportunity to get rid of the anger, bitterness, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and worry holding you back. That interruption creates "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV). Incredible things happen when you let God take the lead in your healing.
You are ready to take that interruption and turn it into a new you. Reaching the level of healing discussed in this blog post requires surrender to Jesus, the God of the Universe, who came, lived as a perfect man, died, and rose again. Funny thing, He used the interruptions He experienced to give us life. He wants to do the same with your interruptions. He will take your interruptions and transform you into a new person.
I am Vickie, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryville, TN, and I help people from Knoxville and the surrounding communities heal from interruptions, trauma, and the hardest things life hands them. I can help you. Click the link at the top of the page and schedule a time so we can talk.
CRISIS LINE
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, help is available right now. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time, or call 911 in an emergency.
Vickie Starkey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Maryville, Tennessee (TN License #579, licensed since 2005) and a Certified Master ART Practitioner. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from Carson-Newman University (1989) and a Master of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1995). You can verify her license at https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html.
This post is for information and encouragement. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care or a therapeutic relationship.
