October 24, 2021

Beautiful Disruptions ~ Take 2 ~ Valerie Ronald

 

This post is a repeat of my first guest post published by InScribe Writers Online, back on October 31, 2019. It so perfectly fits this month's writing prompt that I decided to post it again. 

 

One day on a beach walk with a good friend, I told her about an e-mail I received that morning from a man I did not know. It seems I knew his brother and sister-in-law a long time ago. I watched the waves beat their way to shore, scuffed the sand with my shoe.  

“He asked if it would be alright if we wrote to each other.” When I glanced at my friend, she was smiling. She said, “I have such a strong sense that from this day out, things for you will change for the better. God is up to something.”  

My heart gave a hopeful little leap, then settled back to the cautious beat of one familiar with pain, disappointment and struggle. For several years all I had known was the war zone of a messy divorce and a life-threatening illness. Hope was hard to come by.

But now when I look back I recognize that moment on the beach as one of God’s beautiful disruptions. Sometime later I married the man who e-mailed me and moved on to a whole new life full of love, joy and fulfillment.  

Webster’s dictionary defines disruption as causing something to be unable to continue in the normal way: interrupting the usual progress or activity of something. A disruption is at first stressful because it throws things into disorder, putting us off the course we were used to. But God has a way of disrupting lives that opens up possibilities never imagined, even if at the time the disruption is unwelcome.  

The scriptures are full of beautifully disrupted stories where God suddenly steps in to redirect the current path of someone He wants to use to fulfill His purposes. In Exodus 3, Moses has spent many years tending his father-in-law’s flock on the far side of the desert. God captures Moses’ attention when He speaks from a burning bush. He sends Moses on a mission back to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. As a country herdsman spending days on end with only sheep for company, Moses’ life is beautifully disrupted when he becomes God’s chosen instrument to lead His people to freedom.  

As a lowly shepherd boy on the hills around Bethlehem, David was unlikely to be chosen for any significant role. But God changed David’s life by sending His prophet, Samuel, to anoint him as the future king of Israel. God’s beautiful disruption caused David to become a mighty king, a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22 NIV) and a forefather of Jesus, the Messiah.  

In the most glorious disruption of all, a Jewish peasant girl is visited by an angel announcing she is to give birth to the Son of God. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, she becomes the mother of Jesus, God in human flesh, whose life, death and resurrection provides salvation for all who believe in Him.  

Sometimes God reveals Himself to me in subtle ways. To be honest, I would prefer He direct me slowly and gently. But when I think of the mountaintops of my spiritual walk, it is the beautiful disruptions that stand out. Those times when God breaks suddenly into my mundane life speak of a love so great He would do the extraordinary to capture my attention. 

Such beautiful disruptions cause me to exclaim, only God.

Only God could orchestrate so many details to fulfill His purposes.

Only God interrupts by making me breathless with His beauty and majesty.

Only God beautifully disrupted time by stepping down from eternity to live among us. 


Valerie Ronald lives in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. She is a graduate of Vancouver's Langara College journalism program, and has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, public speaker and bookstore employee. She writes devotionals for her home church bulletins and her online blog. Her current book project chronicles how God's faithfulness saw her through the dark valleys of divorce and cancer. Along with her husband, Valerie enjoys spending time with their blended family and six grandchildren. She is a nature photographer, water colorist, cat lover and Scrabble addict.

More of her devotionals can be read on her blog https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

13 comments:

  1. "I would prefer that God would direct me slowly and gently." Oh yes, me too, Valerie! But, "God has a way of disrupting lives that opens up possibilities never imagined, even if at the time the disruption is unwelcome." Beautiful disruptions indeed. Thank you for re-posting Valerie, this was the first time I've read it.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Joy. Life's disruptions can become God's opportunity to draw us closer to Him.

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  2. This is so beautifully written and worthy of an encore, dear Valerie. Yes, yes to this: "Such beautiful disruptions cause me to exclaim, only God."
    God's unexpected ways that take my breath away are my favorite.
    Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

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    1. I appreciate your positive comment, Wendy. God continues to send disruptions that challenge me to use them for His glory.

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  3. Hi Valerie! Thank you for the comfort of your words. This is a gentle reminder God has not left us alone. "Only God," yes indeed. Blessings to you and your husband, Valerie.

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    1. His disruptions reminding us that we are not alone. I like that. Thank you for your encouraging comment, Alan.

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  4. Beautiful Disruptions 2.0 is perfect for this month's theme. As I don't remember it, I'm glad I heard it now. God does disrupt our lives but it isn't always pleasant. Even so, it does redound to our benefit and his glory in the end.

    I also have a 4-month-old part-Siamese disruption named Buz. He sure is full of himself.

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    1. Buz sounds like an entertaining disruption, Bruce. Thanks for your comment.

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  5. I remember this story, Valerie, but loved reading it again! God is good.

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    1. He is indeed, Tracy. I'm so thankful this particular disruption led me to share life with a lovely, godly man. Thanks for commenting on the rerun.

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  6. Thank-you for sharing this encouraging post ... I too have had a second chance with a wonderful partner. I have also known the scarceness of hope ... and its power on return.

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  7. Your thoughts certainly bear repeating, Valerie. Thank you for sharing them again! I can't wait to see what "only God" will do for my own family. He will get all the glory He is due!

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  8. I loved your story, Valerie. You've shown that interruptions are sometimes beautiful!

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