Opportunities in Disguise: Interruption, Disagreement, & Contention

What do you say? Is it "It's Monday!" or "It's Monday...meh." The week starts afresh and new and we have a choice as to which attitude we take with us. For some, a quick look at the calendar and the appointments, meetings, and tasks within in it will direct our feelings and attitude toward the week ahead. Do you have a meeting with an unhappy parent or client? Do you have an important presentation to make? Do you have a low key week with nothing too exciting planned?

Regardless of what the calendar reads, we never know exactly what is coming around the corner for us at work. In fact, on days where very little is planned out of the ordinary, the personal to-do list usually goes out the window with unplanned, unforeseen challenges. Do you get grumpy when pulled away from the plan? Maybe you sigh with frustration at the interruption. Our outward responses send clear messages about us. What do your responses say about you?

Quite honestly for many, the natural response to unknown and possibly unpleasant challenges at work is to be angry, frustrated, and short; to anticipate the week or the next moment with dread, fear, and pessimism. The truth is that we have to discipline ourselves to develop habits to express what God has done in us as Christians. Remember who you represent at work, Team Jesus, Team-Me, or Team No One (See 10/27's blog). Our words and actions not only show who we represent but also act as an expression of our new selves and our relationship with Jesus. So, how can we express what God has done in us as we face contention, disagreements, and disagreeable people and situations? Below are three ways we can find joy in the disagreeable.

Enthusiastically allow the life of Jesus to manifest itself in you. No matter how disagreeable a situation or person may be, say – “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this matter,” and invite Jesus to provide the words, thoughts, direction, and possibly even a new outlook. Galatians 5:22-24 MSG says, But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Look forward to challenges and accept them joyfully. James 1:2-4 MSG states, Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. Firmly believe that it is one thing to choose the disagreeable, and another thing to go into the disagreeable by God’s engineering. If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.

View challenges as opportunities to show your faith under pressure. In times of blessing it is easy to demonstrate love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control all on our own, apart from Jesus. But in times of sorrow, challenge, and trial, folks expect anger, bitterness, and strife. Express Christ by responding differently with the fruits of the spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 MSG says, If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!


Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you that we can express His life through us. We thank you for the opportunities to show others what You have done in transforming us to be more like You. Help us to see interruptions, disagreement, and contention as opportunities to express what Jesus has done in our lives. In Jesus's Holy Name we pray....Amen.