Either life has impeccable timing or a cruel sense of humour. You decide to fast, and all of a sudden everyone wants to go out to eat. We decide to get up earlier to pray, but we’re too tired in the morning. We decide to go to bed earlier, but the group chat is going OFF when it’s time to sleep. Disruption is unwelcome, but it’s necessary.
Why does it seem like life conspires against us the moment we decide to make better choices? We set a meaningful intention, life goes “hold my beer”, and decides to figure out the most apt form of disruption to halt any momentum we’ve gathered. We set a goal, map out the steps, we’re excited, we’re motivated, and suddenly, obstacles appear.
I first heard the phrase “Disruption follows Intention” from business growth consultant Myron Golden, and he explained a phenomenon I was aware of but couldn’t understand at the time. Every time we decide to do something, obstacles pop up, challenging our commitment to the decision.
For those who fast, think of the days you’ve gone long stretches without eating, but the moment you decide to fast intentionally, hunger comes at you from every direction. Think of Jesus, after His baptism and God declaring Him as His Son whom He dearly loves (Matthew 3:17), He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil (Matthew 4:1).
I remember during the pandemic, I’d had enough and decided I needed to get active, so I decided to pick up running. Filled with energy and gusto, I ordered my short shorts (because real runners have their legs out obvs), some running trainers and took off. While the first run almost killed me, I hurt my ankle on the second and took it as a sign I shouldn’t be running.
“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them” - Proverbs 28:1 (NLT)
Hurt my ankle; clearly, I wasn’t meant to be running, and I am not wicked. So that was that.
Jokes aside, it sometimes feels like we set an intention, and the universe decides to test us. It’s like life wants to know if the intention is genuine or just a fleeting feeling. But why? What if we really want it, but the disruption puts us off? Note how many of us are quick to quit things at the first hurdle, things we claimed we wanted badly.
Why Disruption Follows Intention
For a while, I thought it was poor timing, and/or bad luck. Then I thought it was God’s way of telling us we were heading in the wrong direction. Surely if something is meant for us we wouldn’t face any hurdles… right? Definitely wrong. It’s a natural, borderline predictable part of the growth process. 🥲
When we set a clear intention, we declare war on our current reality and state of being. Imagine life was a river flowing in one direction, with our habits, relationships, and circumstances flowing in the same direction. In setting an intention, we’re essentially changing direction, upsetting the entire ecosystem in the process.
We were bound to face resistance; think of the effort it would take to change the entire trajectory of a river. Commitment to a new direction triggers both internal and external forces that will test our resolve. For starters, although we’ve consciously decided to change, a part of us is still comfortable with the old and familiar.
Circumstances arise externally that force us to confront that part of us, so we can either shed old skin to make room for the new or remain stuck, and the intention remains a dream. Our internal resistance is brought to the surface so we can deal with it. Disruption is a form of confirmation that reveals whether the intention is a firm commitment.
And frankly, as a man of faith, there’s a spiritual lens I look through as well. On one hand, we were told that our faith would be tested (James 1:2-4), but on the other hand, when we set intentions that bring us closer to who God called us to be and what He called us to do, the enemy will also put up resistance.
All in all, I’ve learnt to view disruption as proof of movement. It shows that something has shifted and we’re making progress. If there’s no resistance, I’d question whether we’re really making progress. I do have to add the caveat that discernment is key. Sometimes we face resistance simply because we’re doing things wrong. Speak to God!
Should I Quit?
There’s a cruel irony when it comes to disruption: the same disruption that signals to us that we’re on the right track often feels exactly like evidence that we’re on the wrong one. “If this is really God’s will, shouldn’t it be easier?”; I had to rid myself of the mindset that God operates like a genie. Ease isn’t evidence of alignment.
I get it though. Doubts creep in. When obstacles multiply, we begin to question the path we’re on. I’m guilty of this, especially in relationships. “Surely if you were really the one for me, we wouldn’t be facing these issues”. The discomfort caused by disruption often clashes with the comfort or ease I thought I’d get from my decisions. It also illuminates any uncertainty.
The big picture and long-term plan suddenly aren’t as clear. When clarity fades, so does confidence, and we start feeling lost. Persevering through fog isn’t for everyone, and quitting often feels easier. In addition to this, in moments of uncertainty, disruption appears bigger than it is and retreat often feels logical.
Ultimately, I believe disruption makes us feel like quitting, not because we’re failing, but because we’re being stretched and pushed beyond our current limits. Stretching often feels like we’re breaking until we realise we’ve grown.
Final Thoughts
Overarchingly, my approach to disruption is that we just have to power through it. We can’t afford the disruption that follows setting intentions to deter us or make us question our desires. Disruption is unavoidable. The friction isn’t bad luck. It’s simply preparation for what lies ahead and confirmation that we mean what we decided.
The temptation to quit is often a result of reality not matching our expectations, and our expectations often lack the nuance that reality requires. The enemy would absolutely love for us to confuse resistance with rejection; we’d be doing his job for him, but we have to refuse to quit. Every time we do, we prove to ourselves, to God and to the people who believe in us that we mean what we say.
Cling firmly to what the Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9 (NIV): “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
As always, make a decision that future you will be grateful for.
Have a great weekend!
CT
I’m in that place now — disruption everywhere the moment I set my intention. But I’m starting to see it’s not punishment, it’s the price of building something worth being remembered