“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him.” (Lamentations 3:25a NKJV)
Have you ever been to a salvage store? My oldest son and his daughter told me about a good one on line; a local store where you can buy new furnishings and décor, still in the box; items that were not returned to the original supplier. I have purchased dining room chairs, clocks, and other great finds. However this week I thought I had a complaint to air concerning this store.
I had ordered a round grey coffee table via their online process, paying approximately $32 compared to the original retail price was a little under $200. My order had been confirmed and I had started prepping for where I was going to place the new table. I was excited about my purchase. Usually you get an email to pick up your item in two days; if not earlier; at times the same day you receive the confirmation. Tuesday marked a week of waiting. I send an email asking in so many words, “What’s up? Where’s my table?” I get a kind reply that informs me that they are looking for my table and I will receive me a message when they have found it on the crowded warehouse floor. Impatiently, I drive out to the store and give the person who finds the orders my order number. Two customers who arrived after me get their orders with no problem. I am still “patiently “waiting. Eventually the supervisor comes out and explains that they have not located the order and I could either wait or they would send me a message to pick it up once it is found. Wednesday, I send another “What’s up?” message. The reply I received explained that they still had not found the order and I had three options: wait longer, get a refund, or receive a gift certificate. I didn’t want to wait. I did not want to wait an even longer time for a refund. And I certainly did not want a gift certificate that I would either lose or never use. What I wanted to say would not have revealed my Christian character. Thank God for the Holy Spirit, but it had to be Him that restrained me from releasing my frustration and expressing in a “no holds barred,” “lay down my Bible,” email relating my disappointment with the workers not being able to get my salvaged coffee table.
Later in the afternoon I go back to the salvage store website and find another coffee table. It’s not grey, but black and very unique. It fit my design scheme and it too was approximately $32. Originally it costs about $350. In email interchanges, we agreed that that they would substitute the black table for my original table. I was told that it was missing some hardware, but a hardware store was nearby where I could get some screws.
I salvaged three quick lessons from this experience; lessons that will benefit you, as they benefited me. Lesson one: Sometimes you just have to wait. Lesson two: follow the leading of the Holy Spirit while you are waiting. He will keep you from laying your witness responsibility behind. Lesson three: Sometimes after waiting, you get not only what you want, but you are blessed with more than you expected. Not only did I get a more expensive table, but the screws were in the box after all!
I hope my salvaged lessons are useful for you today or in the future, as needed. Remember the saying, “He may not come when you want Him to, but when He does, He is right on time.” Have a great Friday! Be blessed!
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King