Jesus will meet you where you are. Just leave a chair for Him at your table.
“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You.” —Psalm 63:3-5
Today for lunch we headed to an udon restaurant in Waikiki. When we arrived. The line to get in curved around the corner. Maybe not. Something my children had been looking forward to. Homemade noodles made right in front of the patrons.
Plan B. Red Lobster Waikiki. I get dropped off to order and pick up. Knowing there would be a wait until the Red Lobster order ready, and kinda hungry, I did something I rarely ever do. Across the street from the Red Lobster. A McDonalds. First time I have physically walked inside a McDonalds in like 20 plus years.
I originally ordered one fish sandwich, but then the mcD employee announced there was a special. 2 for $6. My final order: 2 fish sandwiches and 1 mango pineapple smoothie. Total $8.90.
Then I went over to Red Lobster. Waited with a delivery guy. 19 years old. From Kaneohe. Two jobs, one as a waiter and the other an Uber Eats deliverer. He kept saying “I can’t wait, I can’t wait.”
So I shared with him John 1. In Him was light and that light was the light of men.
He was alright until I got up to get my food. Then he yelled to the server: “Cancel the order….it’s taking too long. I’m leaving.” He left, and forfeited his delivery fee. All he had to do was stay 5 more minutes.
What I learned today.
- After eating $8.90 worth of McD good, I couldn’t eat the filet mignon steak or Alfredo shrimp I had ordered. Because I didn’t wait for the better meal.
- The Uber Eats delivery guy lost his delivery fee and salary. Because he didn’t want to wait.
No one enjoys waiting.
The world even taunts ways to work less yet find more success.
But there is no substitution for waiting and perseverance.
Waiting results in benefits. No genuine shortcuts exist for success. No escalator to a successful relationship or career. No elevator to a steadfast and strong spiritual walk with God.
It takes stairs. One step at a time.
This new year. Endeavor to wait on God.
- Let His unfailing love for you be enough.
- Praise and pray regardless of the wait or circumstances.
- Let Jesus satisfy you more than any feast that the world can entice you with.
Go ahead. Take the stairs. One step at a time. And when you get there, leave a chair for Jesus at the table. As you feast with the King, savor His good benefits of waiting upon Him.
Let Jesus be enough. Let Jesus be the Real Truth.