Biting Off More Than We Can Chew
Our little terrier, Tess, has quite the peculiar eating habit that never fails to make me chuckle. Despite her boundless enthusiasm for food, she's incredibly particular about portion sizes. Give her a treat that's too large, and she transforms into a whimpering wanderer, carrying the morsel from room to room like it's some great burden.
Just yesterday, Jason gave her a piece of stale muffin, and the drama began. Round and round she went, from the kitchen to the living room, then upstairs and back down again, all while making the most pitiful sounds imaginable. Finally, I took pity on her (perhaps because I just wanted some peace and quiet) and broke the treat into smaller pieces. You'd think that would solve the problem, right? But no! Our clever girl promptly scooped up all the pieces at once and started her woeful procession all over again! Crazy mutt!!!
As I watched this comedic—and somewhat frustrating—scene unfold, the Lord impressed upon my heart how similar we humans can be. God, in His infinite wisdom, carefully portions out our life experiences, challenges, and blessings in manageable sizes. But we, like Tess with her treats, often try to grab everything at once.
We want to know our entire life's path right now. We demand to see the full picture including career changes, ministry opportunities, family developments, and everything else! And when God doesn't reveal it all at once, we sometimes wander about whimpering, just like our precious pup.
The Lord reminds us in Psalm 104:27, "These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season." Just like every creature depends on God's perfect timing for provision, we too must learn to wait for His perfect portions. Notice how the verse emphasizes "due season." Not early, not late, but exactly when needed. It's a beautiful reminder that our Father doesn't just know what to give us but when to give it..
Just as Jason and I break Tess's treats into manageable pieces because we love her, our heavenly Father portions out His guidance and revelations in bite-sized pieces because He loves us. He knows exactly how much we can handle at any given moment.
Perhaps you're like me, wanting to see the whole picture of what God has planned. Maybe you're carrying around more than you can handle because you've grabbed everything at once. Can I encourage you to trust His timing and His portions? He's not withholding information to frustrate us but to protect us. After all, as Jesus said in John 16:12, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."
Let's learn to appreciate those bite-sized blessings and trust that our loving Father knows exactly what size portions we need and exactly when we need them.