The Bible tells us in James 1:17 that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (NKJV)

I was just thinking about this verse while making dinner recently. My husband and I have a rescue dog, Maya, who is 5 years old. While people may say we spoil her, I like to think we just take excellent care of her.

Every evening, when we cook dinner, we set aside a small plate for her with things she can eat. Tonight, while my husband and I had flavorful pork tacos with coleslaw topping, she had her own taco with plain shredded pork. Okay, so maybe she is a bit spoiled.

While I was prepping the coleslaw, I dropped some on the ground, and she, with a determined, laser focus, ate it almost as soon as it fell. Does she like coleslaw? Not really. Does she prefer pork? Absolutely!

In her impatience, she ate something that wasn’t nearly as good as what we set aside for her, but she didn’t know that and didn’t care. She wanted food, and it didn’t matter where she got it.

As she was eating the coleslaw off the kitchen floor, I thought we may sometimes act like Maya when it comes to God. We may settle for scraps of fleeting enjoyment, rushing to take whatever falls our way and forgetting that God’s plans are always for our best.

Instead of settling for what is lacking, we can wait with anticipation, knowing that God is gracious and generous in all He gives us!

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinity more than we may ask or think.” (NLT)

Instead of waiting for God’s best, we may excitedly rush to grab things that lack his strength, even things that are bad for us, forgetting that God is good in all he gives!

Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to all, And his tender mercies are over all His works” (NKJV).

Instead of remembering that God always gives us what we need, we may rush to get things devoid of his promises and nourishment. Yet, his Word tells us that we can be hopeful in what God has planned!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (NIV)

At some point in our lives, we may have chosen temporary things or tried to do things on our own instead of faithfully waiting for God’s goodness. Yet, when those moments come, we always have the Bible, the living, breathing Word of God, to give us goodness, nourishment, and hope for the future.