Planning is a thing with me. I love creating a "to do" list. I rarely fly by the seat of my pants. And I always have a Plan B just in case my first plan goes sideways.

(Side note and absolute "squirrel" moment: Did you know that the phrase "flying by the seat of one's pants" is an old aviation saying? Early planes did not have navigation equipment or the ability to talk to folks on the ground. So, the phrase came to mean flying or living without the ability to plan everything out thoroughly.)

Okay, back to my plan for this post . . .

Because I love to organize, systematize, and control pretty much everything, I genuinely hate it when things don't go my way. 

Sadly, when my life gets interrupted, I sometimes erupt, and it ain't pretty.

I recently had an experience at the pharmacy that usually takes five minutes, but it took almost thirty, and things still didn't go the way I planned.

Apparently, God loves to challenge my need to control by throwing a monkey wrench into the gears of my life.

God isn't mean. He's not cruel, heartless, or sadistic. 

But God will use whatever He must to develop my character and teach me to trust in Him and His control.

I am convinced that God interrupts our plans, agendas, and schedules to reveal our fears, worries, and insecurities. 

When I erupt in frustration or explode in anger, God smiles and whispers to my soul, Will you trust me? I've got this. I've got you. And Kurt, My plans for you are good and better than you can imagine.

Think about it. God interrupted Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Esther, Mary, Peter, and Saul, who became Paul. And the actual list of characters God barged in on is far longer.

God interrupted Abe and said, “Leave your home, and come follow me to a land I will show you. The Promised Land!” Jesus said to Peter, “Leave your fishing nets, and come follow me and I will do some amazing things in your life!”

Hundreds of people in the Bible had unexpected and unplanned God encounters that radically changed the trajectory of their lives.

I love this quote by C. S. Lewis, "If one can, it is good to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own,' or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life—the life God is sending one day by day."

Lewis said it well; You must change your perspective. 

Understand and accept that interruptions happen, and they are a part of the life God is sending to us every day.

How about you?

Did you expect to do something, go somewhere, or get something, and it didn't happen?

Welcome to my world. Beets! Welcome to life on planet earth.

And remember, God is always more concerned with your character than your comfort.

Here's what I'm learning (and still in process on this one): When God interrupts my plans, I can choose to adapt, adjust, and trust or miss the opportunity to grow.

It's always best to grow.

So, maybe the next time you get sidetracked or interrupted, you can pause and pray, "Jesus, what do You want to do in me and through me in this unexpected and unplanned moment?"

"God's power in you is working to bring about

something unique and incredible.

In fact, His plan is much more than

anything you can ask or imagine!

So, don’t give up. You can trust Him.”

Ephesians 3:20 (Bubna Paraphrase Version)