THE SPECIAL SAUCE

I was sitting at the drive-through window at McDonald's this weekend (ok, I eat out a lot). I did the usual thing, I drove up to the menu and ordered. I proceeded to the first window and paid, then drove to the second window and waited for the order. After sitting there for a few minutes, the clerk slid back the window and asked, "Will you please pull over to the side? your order is not ready."

I was a little upset and even impatient, but I pulled over and waited. I thought, "How come other folks ordered and drove straight through and I have to wait." I waited for another two or three minutes. It seemed like hours before the clerk finally ran out, tapped on the window, and handed me the order.

Of course I asked, "Hey, what took so long?" She replied, "You wanted the Special Sauce, which meant it had to be specially made for that sandwich - it doesn't usually come with that one.

It seems to me this scene could be a reflection of our prayer lives. We make our request to the Lord. Our menu is His Word, where He has listed promise after promise. We stand before Him and request and plead and, sometimes, even beg. We go to the first window and pay, sometimes with fervent prayer, sometimes with prolonged suffering, sometimes with obedience, and sometimes not at all.

We then move to the second window and wait for our order. If God doesn't answer within a few minutes, we become upset. You know the phrase, "Jesus, it's 5:00 p.m. Friday; I prayed to You yesterday, and You still haven't answered. I can't wait much longer."

Why is it taking Him so long? I've seen people drive up before me and they received their orders right away! We even go so far as to tap on the window and ask if He has forgotten our order. We become impatient. We become upset. We become downright mad.

Lord I asked for a mate ten days ago and I don't see him/her anywhere.

Lord, I've been asking for a new job for two years; others have passed me by.

I've been waiting on a financial blessing for ten years and I still have more month than money.

Where are You and why haven't You blessed me?

And just when you think He is giving you the answer, He pulls back the royal curtain of Eternity, and says, "Please pull over to the side and wait a while longer."

This once frustrated me to no end, made me mad, made me want to give up, made me want to holler; that is, until the clerk brought out my sandwich. Then, the revelation became clear.

Do you know why the Lord has put you on the side? Do you know why you have had to wait for this blessing longer than before? Do you know why He has put you through more this time than ever? Do you know why it seems as though He has not heard you and He does not care? Do you know why it seems like you have had to go through more tears, more pains, and more struggling this time?

Because this blessing is a Special Sauce Blessing! This is an Overflowing, Pressed-Down, Shaken Together, Blessing! You made a Special Order and God has been putting together a Special Sauce Blessing for you and He has to prepare it for you!

That mate you wanted . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That job you wanted . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That financial blessing . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That peace on the job . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That house . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That deeper anointing . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!
That promotion . . . He's putting together a Special Sauce!

How many people have driven away before the clerk brought their food, and how many people have missed their blessings because they did not wait? Hang on there. Keep on waiting. You made a Special Order, now wait on God's Special Sauce! They who wait shall receive a Special Sauce!