Disruptions

Not my photo. Disruptions in life come in a lot of different shapes and sizes, such as a road block or traffic. Of course we're probably more concerned with the ones that happen in our lives.

Well it's time again for the clocks to fall back. I find the time changes to be challenging to be honest. Just feels weird that we mess with time like that. It's a bit of a disruption you could say.

And we don't like disruption, do we?

Recently, and if you've followed the blog at all you'll recall, I visited Peru for mission work. The trip itself didn't feel like a disruption, but the culture shock did.

It's not a knock against Peru mind you, I came to really enjoy my time there. But it's still vastly different than the U.S.A. in certain areas. In other words, I had become very comfortable in my environment. I felt disrupted.

Disruption has a way of bringing out the rough edges in us. And perhaps it is part of why God brings or allows disruption to come into our lives.

Of course the examples I've given are minor ones. Sometimes the disruptions are far more, eh, disruptive. But I hope they help to prove some points: we're not in control, and we have work to do, by God's grace and help, and that God is oftentimes more concerned about growing our character, than He is about what we think He should be concerned about. Romans 8:29 follows 8:28, for example. I'll let you look that one up yourself tonight.

Many places in Scripture talk about trials and the growing of our faith and character. Disruptions have a purpose.

Do we enjoy them? James says that, in a sense, we ought to. Let me disrupt myself to go grab my Bible to write out this verse...

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials," - James 1:2

But he goes on to say in verse 3: "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

In other words, they serve a purpose. We of course don't feel that in the moment, I know I certainly haven't in the past.

But what fruit has come from disruptions? There's of course what James mentions here, the building of our faith. There's what Paul mentions in Romans 5:3-5:

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

But there's also other results. Think of Paul and the Macedonian call. Think of Joseph's, well, most of his life was a disruption.

So, anyway, it's food for though as we deal with this time change, and hopefully not be so disrupted that it affects our worship in the morning.