Surprised by a Wait

  One of my favorite coffee shops is an Italian bakery that offers decadent beverages, fresh pastries and savory goodies. I don’t go as often as I’d like to because I like to try… to be mindful of my budgeting as most of the time I’m there I have a hard time only getting an iced coffee and feel the tug to go for a latte and a fancy croissant of some kind. A tug that is very hard to refuse when it comes to homemade Italian pastries that are the size of your hand.
                     A couple of weeks ago I stopped by one Saturday morning before running some errands.  I put in my order and then stood off to the side and waited. I waited, and waited and waited. More  people came in and numbers began being called. I noticed that they were calling numbers of people that had gotten there after me. I didn’t think too much of it as I figured maybe the other drinks needed to be prepared first as they called out Tiramisu and Carrot Cake lattes with an artful dollop of whipping on top. I only ordered an iced coconut latte. A semi basic beverage that probably didn’t require as much time as the Reels or TikTok worthy creations I saw placed on the counter. The numbers they called climbed well above mine but I had probably only been there about 10 minutes at the most. 
                    Me, someone who is naturally not one to make a fuss in food places or tell the waiter when the order is wrong, took a deep breath and walked up to the register. I followed up about my order. The woman at the register told me they were coming out with a hot fresh batch of croissants but told me the ticket for my drink order didn’t go through and apologized then handed me a card that said my next drink was on them. I was baffled and nearly wanted to hand back the “free drink” card to her. It hadn’t been an hour, just about 10-15 minutes and maybe like 5 or 7 orders got called before mine. I stood there dumbfounded, thanked her and stared at the “free drink” card. 
                    As I stood there waiting for my drink and croissant, I randomly began to think of how sometimes in life it may feel like God has forgotten us but then suddenly He does something and answers a prayer we’ve been praying for awhile unexpectedly or simply sends us little reminders that He hasn’t forgotten us. There may be times in life where we may be tired of waiting. There may be times when we feel like maybe He doesn’t care, maybe He isn’t near. After all, x.y,z, hasn’t changed or x, y, z has happened. 

However, He hasn’t forgotten you. He hasn’t. Like I unexpectedly got this free drink card to use on my next order even though I felt like I wasn’t waiting that long so I didn’t deserve one, God will show up and surprise us with answered prayers and reminders that He still does see us and care about us even if it may not feel like He does even when we don't deserve it or may feel as if we have been forgotten by Him.

        I’d like to close with some verses to reflect on that can remind you that He’s with you in the waiting times and tangibly reminds us He is there. Feel free to write them down somewhere, meditate on them and reflect on them. 

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

-Matthew 6:26

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”

-Deuteronomy 31:8

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”

 -Psalm 27: 13-14

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” 

-Philippians 4:19

Have a great week!

Amy