The Blessing of Distractions

But Jesus called them unto him, and

said, Suffer little children to come unto

me, and forbid them not: for of such

is the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:16

Most people don't like distractions, but they are all around us and take a variety of shapes and sizes. Most distractions that come our way look like people...that's because they are people. These people don't mean to cause any confusion and may not mean to distract. They just want our undivided attention no matter what they see us doing.

There are several distractions that really bother me a great deal, such as...

• Phone rings while I'm trying to complete a project.
• Someone wants to talk when I'm watching a really good TV program.
• When someone sees me reading a book, they may want to tell me the how the story ends.
• Someone interrupts me when I'm teaching a Sunday school lesson.
• Out with hubby, driving in the mountains and we have car trouble.
• An animal runs out in front of my moving car. Fortunately I've never hit an animal.
  

 

We all know there are distractions but what is a distraction. A distraction is something that draws ones attention from an object of focus. A distraction is a bump in the road or a burp in the course of life but always untimely.

We read of any number of distractions in Scripture. People we read about there were not immune from them. Since the beginning of Genesis all the way through Revelation, there have been distractions.

• Eve had what turned out to be an unwelcome visitor in the Garden of Eden.
• Moses was tending sheep and suddenly a bush caught on fire.
• David went out on his balcony to catch a breath of fresh air and came across a real distraction on a nearby balcony in the form of a beautiful woman bathing.
• Daniel was praying at a window and was arrested.
• Saul was headed to Damascus where he hoped to round up a bunch of Christians to persecute when a bright light distracted him and he was never again the same. On that day, he even underwent a name change and became known as Paul.
• Peter was up on a roof and a dream distracted him...a dream of a huge sheet with all types of animals on it. 
  

 

Think of all the distractions Jesus faced:

• Little children ran to him, climbing on Him because they were drawn to Him.
• He was asleep in a boat that was tossing and turning in a horrible storm and the frightened disciples woke Him up.
• Four friends lowered a disabled friend down through a hole in the ceiling of a house where Jesus was teaching, hoping their friend could be healed. (When was the last time someone made a hole in your roof and lowered a stretcher down through it?)
• When a 12 year old boy, Jesus remained behind with the priests in the temple talking with them when His parents interrupted the learning time.
• The Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were always interrupting Jesus' teaching.
  

 

We've all been there and I'm afraid I have usually regarded distractions as negative events. Distractions for the most part aren't intentional. People just feel they need an answer or just need the attention of someone. We all tried to teach our children to not talk when grownups are talking. We've asked them to not talk to us while we were on the telephone. So, we've concluded that distractions are necessary evils in the course of life but what do we do with them.

 

Several years ago, a dear friend taught me about a spiritual practice of hers. She said that when she first wakes up in the morning, one of her first prayers is asking the Lord to allow only those people He chooses to cross her path that day. She includes in that, any event...the usual or the unusual. She said that as a result, when something negative in nature comes her way, she automatically regards it as something from the Lord. She views people in the same light.

 

Distractions in the form of people probably reveal a need of some sort. That person may need ministered to in some way, so God may interrupt our day with an opportunity to serve Him and help another person. We would probably be less irritated if we could view distractions as opportunities in disguise, as opportunities for service or to get our minds refocused where they should be.

 

Interruptions are distractions, but whether we speak of interruptions or distractions, I have to wonder how many of them have been Divine Appointments that I have missed, but that God intended me to handle in those moments. Sometimes it would be hard to tell the difference. If my day has been dedicated to God, I feel I should think in positive ways more than negative ones with regard to the various people or things that appear in my life in the course of my day. 

 

I wish we could realize that we are on this earth to be servants and ministers...God's representatives...Jesus with skin on. Whether saved or unsaved, there are people who need us. They need our encouragement, advice, help in any number of ways and yes, definitely need our prayers and at times, even our tears. I'm not saying that we should ignore our daily responsibilities. That would not honor Him. There have been times when I've taken on too much that in many cases, I wasn't meant to get involved in. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct what He wants us to do and when He wants us to do it. I get on overload when I haven't asked the Lord to direct my day. God knows what you and I can reasonably handle and be effective. Bathing our day in prayer will always be helpful and meaningful. When viewed from God's perspective, no distraction or interruption should be considered a “whoops” in our day. God NEVER says “Whoops” nor should we as we walk through our day, whether we be interrupted or distracted.

Dear Father...I give this day to you. Whatever it is...a phone call, someone dropping by the house, an accident or the electricity going off...may I regard the events of my day to be under your control. Holy Spirit, guide me...I give my day to you knowing that under Your leadership, I will consider any person or event a Divine Appointment. May I stay in close communication with You. I love you.....Amen