What if the Unexpected Is From God? - Encouragement for Today - February 18, 2026

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February 18, 2026

What if the Unexpected Is From God?
LYNN COWELL

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“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV)

Why did I pick Friday at 5 p.m. to get my prescription? The line was long. My patience was short. I wanted to get my weekend project started, not stand and wait.

That’s when the texts started coming. A loved one needed my help. But helping them would mean changing my plans, which I didn’t want to do. The more texts that came, the more irritation flooded my system. I decided to answer later.

Then the next morning, another text came from someone else needing my help … in the middle of time I had set aside to spend with Jesus.

Ironically (or not), I had just finished fasting and seeking the Lord to hear His voice more clearly. So how would I respond to these texts? Would I allow myself to slip into an old, wrong attitude? Or would I listen for His voice? Might this irritating interruption actually be an invitation from God?

This time I listened to the voice of Jesus, and I helped bring peace to the one who was distressed.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He continually used interruptions as invitations to glorify His Father. In Luke 5:17-26, a paralyzed man was lowered from a rooftop as Jesus was teaching, and Jesus stopped to heal him. In Luke 8:40-48, on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter, Jesus stopped to heal a woman with an issue of blood. And these are only two in a list of many examples.

In John 10, Jesus was speaking in Jerusalem with the Pharisees, a group of religious teachers who thought they knew exactly how to hear from God: through rigid law-keeping. But Jesus interrupted their legalism with a new word picture describing who He is: “I am the gate for the sheep … I am the good shepherd” (John 10:7-11, NIV). As He expanded His teaching, He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

When I got those texts, I had to ask myself, Am I listening to His voice? I’d prayed to hear God better, yet when He spoke to me through the needs of another person, I almost didn’t listen.

As you reflect on your day-to-day life, where do you often experience interruptions? A crying child? A line at the coffee shop? A friend who needs a listening ear? Could these disruptions in our days actually be triggers for you and me to move toward following our Shepherd?

Perhaps the crying child is an opportunity to slow down, bring comfort, and give ourselves a break from work as well.

Maybe the person at the coffee shop could use a smile, a free latte, or an invitation to church.

And the friend in need? God might be giving us an opportunity to grow in empathy and compassion.

Good Shepherd, help me to ask: Is it an interruption or invitation? Help me to discern Your voice and follow where You are asking me to go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

The transformation we’re longing for doesn’t come from fewer interruptions or better circumstances — it comes from God’s Truth getting inside of us and reshaping our perspective. That is the heart of She Speaks. Three days of teaching, worship, and hands-on guidance will help you step into what God is doing through your story — not someday when life is perfect but now, right where you are. Early-bird pricing is available while supplies last, so don’t wait to say yes. Get your tickets today, and we’ll save you a seat!

ENGAGE

Memorizing scripture is a powerful way to help us discern what the Good Shepherd’s voice sounds like. Download your free copy of “Verses that Stick: 7 Ways to Memorize Scripture in the Middle of Life’s Chaos” here.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 31:15, “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me” (NIV).

When you read the Gospels, where else do you see Jesus experiencing interruptions that led to ministry?

How can you follow His example and live out the truth of Psalm 31:15 today, trusting that your times are in God’s hand? Share with us in the comments!

© 2026 by Lynn Cowell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org