Sure enough, two minutes came and went and we hadn’t moved one inch. So I pulled into a parking spot and we went into the restaurant. It was fifteen minutes before they were going to lock the door, so I felt like that was enough time that I wouldn’t annoy the workers! But standing in line, I could sense the tension. You could tell that the customers had been standing there waiting on their food for quite a while. I could feel the angst rising in my chest. It was too late. Sophia was hungry. I was tired. And I did not want to do this!
All of a sudden I heard the guy who making the sandwiches. He was singing. It was familiar to me. “There is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus.” I was pretty impressed with his boldness and I was hoping that I would make eye contact to just let him know that I was hearing him. But then a worker rushed past in tears. Another one followed, hollering back to the manager who was trying to fill the backlog of orders…”I can’t go back on the line. I just can’t do it tonight.” It was at that moment that I caught the young man’s attention and I said, “I think those of out here need you to keep singing.” Then the manager turned around and looked me in the eye.
There are moments when heaven seems to stop to listen. And in this moment I knew God was calling me to do the same. She apologized to me for the long wait and I said, “it’s okay, really.” She thanked me and I felt that gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit. I glanced over at the two weeping workers and asked her, “is there anything I can do?” She stepped over to me and whispered, “we just found out that our boss has cancer.” I told her how sorry I was and I asked if she thought it would be okay if I prayed with them. She nodded in their direction and I handed my things to my granddaughter so I could go to them.
The two who were standing there granted me permission, so I prayed to the God of all comfort. I prayed to the God who heals. I prayed to the God of peace. And I prayed to the God who wipes away all tears from our eyes. When I was done praying, they thanked me and hugged me and they headed back to their stations to work. I could see the relief in the eyes of the manager. When we stepped outside there were at least 12 cars in the drive-thru. I stopped again and prayed for kindness to fall on those who had no idea why they had been sitting in that line so long.
I know that it has been said many times before. We can never know what is going on in the hearts of men. Remember, this was not a day that I was in a mood to have my patience tested. But apparently this was also a day when God touched my heart through a blessing of boldness in a room full of worshipers. I came home with peace and confidence that I had said and done exactly what I was supposed to do.
I won’t even comment on the timing of me pulling up when I did. Of how God had already “seen” what was happening in that place. Of how He was not surprised by any of the details. Keep your eyes open. Keep your heart open. Let Him show you what is happening around you. And ask Him what it is He would have you do.