Taco Bell Taught Me a Lesson

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14, NLT).

Thursday marks the end of my work week, and I often choose to spend those evenings recharging. This usually takes the form of a mindless movie and often some good Mexican food. A few weeks ago, I was home and found myself feeling hungry earlier in the evening than usual. I wanted Mexican food, and before I knew it, I had hopped in the car to drive to Taco Bell.

I was on the phone with a good friend who also frequents Taco Bell to satisfy her Mexican food cravings. As I pulled up to the drive-thru speaker, we were discussing menu options. I always feel pressure to immediately know my order, so I made a quick decision about what to get. As I pulled forward to pay, I told my friend, “I was too impatient. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be disappointed with my order.” Because she knows me well, she agreed, and I kicked myself for not being patient enough to consider what I really wanted.

I pulled off after paying for my food, checked the bag, and noticed I had a bunch of sauce packets, which I declined when they asked if I wanted any. Moments later, I realized I did not get what I actually ordered. After deciding it wasn’t worth it to go back, I got home, pulled out the food, and realized I had received something significantly better than what I had ordered.

Isn’t God so often like that? In my impatience, I made a quick decision about what I wanted and immediately found myself feeling disappointed with my choice. But, despite my impatience, the Lord exceeded my expectations. I thought I knew what I wanted, but He had something better for me. I know. I know. This story may seem trivial when it comes to an order at Taco Bell, but the Lord had a bigger message for me in all of this.

As I ate my steak taco salad, I found myself pondering how many times in my life I have asked the Lord for something, and He didn’t give me what I asked for. Though I may have been disappointed at the time, it was because He had something better for me. That evening at Taco Bell, the Lord taught me a lesson.

I love Psalm 27:14: “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” This verse reminds me of the ever-important concept of being patient with the Lord, which is something I am continually working on. In God’s goodness, even when I allow my impatience to get the best of me, He is always there to rescue me and often exceed the expectations I have for myself.

My patience is continually tested, especially when it comes to the deepest desires of my heart. I am grateful the Lord has guided my decision-making, and I haven’t allowed the external pressures of this world to lead me into something I will ultimately be disappointed with. Throughout my journey, I have learned that my deepest desire is to seek the Lord.

Have you allowed your impatience to push you into making decisions that left you feeling disappointed? There are no guarantees that we will never experience disappointment, but as we are reminded from Psalm 27:14, we are called to wait patiently for the Lord. I’m asking you today to join me in lending our ear to Him, opening our hearts to hear His direction for our lives, and watching as He exceeds our expectations.

#trust #christ #thenarrowpath #faith #food #psalms #jesus