I am always amazed at how God speaks to me on my dog walks with Buckley (our cockapoo). It’s one of the reasons why this blog is called The Unfinished Walk. The other day, I ran out of his usual treats, so I placed some of his daily biscuits in his treat bag, thinking he wouldn’t notice. When it was time for a reward, I offered him a “treat.” He eagerly ran up, went to take it, did a double-take, and then just sat back and looked at me with a scoff. A genuine scoff. Here I was, offering him free food (granted, eating the biscuits doesn’t exactly excite me either, but still).
As this happened, this verse came to mind:
“Matthew 7:11 NLT: So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?”
A flood of thoughts suddenly hit me. Here I was, offering my dog part of his daily “bread,” and he was turning his nose up because it wasn’t a more luxurious, exciting “treat.” This got me thinking: how often do we (read me) fail to appreciate the gifts God freely gives us each and every day?
I started looking at myself, wondering if I was like Buckley, looking at the daily gifts my loving Heavenly Father gives me and scoffing because it’s not a big, exciting treat—like a surprise gift to help pay for my garden renovations. And yes, I am guilty of failing to appreciate the gifts he gives me daily: the grace, mercy, love, food, warmth from the heating, electricity for fans to keep me cool, my family, and all the rest of it. For that, I am truly sorry.
As I continued my walk with Buckley and pondered this, his demeanour towards his biscuits changed. We kept walking, and he even started to enjoy them, coming back on command and receiving his “daily bread.” This again spoke to me about what a great time we both had once he adjusted his thoughts about what a “gift” is and that I would not give him something bad.
The Foundation of Trust
This small, humorous incident with Buckley revealed a much deeper truth about the nature of trust. Buckley’s initial reaction was one of disappointment because the gift didn’t match his expectation. But as we walked on, his trust in me, his provider, overrode his disappointment. He recognised that I, his owner, would not offer him something harmful or without purpose. My intentions were always good, even if the gift wasn’t what he expected.
This is the very essence of the trust God calls us to have in him. Buckley, in his simple canine way, had to move past his idea of a “good gift” and accept that his provider had a better understanding of what was truly good for him. It was a lesson in submission, not to a master, but to a trustworthy and loving caretaker.
Think of the parallel. Buckley has no concept of what is best for his long-term health. He’d probably eat a whole bag of high-sugar treats if I let him, even though it would make him sick later. He trusts that I know better. He trusts that the food I give him is the right food, at the right time, in the right quantity. This is a profound, uncomplicated trust.
This is what we are invited to have with our Heavenly Father. We may ask for a specific, shiny “treat”—a new job, a specific relationship, a financial windfall—and God may instead give us a “biscuit.” We might be tempted to scoff, to question his love or provision. But we are called to trust that he, our loving Father, sees the bigger picture. He knows what will nourish us, what will sustain us, and what might harm us in the long run.
Scripture on God’s Good Gifts
The Bible is full of verses that echo this theme of God’s perfect provision and our need to trust it. The verse from Matthew 7 is a cornerstone, but there are many more.
- James 1:17 NLT: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” This verse reminds us that every truly good gift in our lives, from the sun in the sky to the very breath in our lungs, originates from a flawless and unchanging God.
- Philippians 4:19 NLT: “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” This is a promise of provision. Note that it says “needs,” not “wants.” God promises to supply what we need for our journey, not necessarily every single thing we desire. He knows the difference.
- Psalm 84:11 NLT: “For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Here, we see a beautiful promise: God will not withhold any good thing. This means if we don’t have something we want, it’s not because God is being stingy. It’s because, from his perspective, it is not the best thing for us right now, or the timing isn’t right. It’s a challenge to our perception of what is “good.”
The theme of God giving good gifts is central to understanding his character. It’s a character rooted in perfect love and wisdom.
From Disappointment to Gratitude
My experience with Buckley’s scoffing was a stark reminder of my own similar behaviour. I was disappointed that I didn’t have the treats I wanted to give him, and he was disappointed with the alternative. In the same way, we can be so focused on what we think we lack that we completely miss the daily abundance of God’s provision.
This mindset shift from disappointment to gratitude is key. It’s about training our hearts to see the “biscuits” as the “good gifts” they are. The morning sunrise, a healthy family, a roof over our heads—these aren’t luxuries; they are divine provisions. The grace and mercy we receive each day are gifts we could never earn.
How do we cultivate this mindset? It’s a discipline, like any spiritual practice.
- Pray with a Thankful Heart: Begin your prayers with thanks. Before you ask for anything, thank God for what he has already given you. It changes your perspective.
- Acknowledge the Small Things: Don’t just look for the big, exciting gifts. Be thankful for the everyday things: a hot cup of tea, the sound of a bird singing, a kind word from a stranger. These are all good gifts from a loving God.
- Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down three to five things you are grateful for each day. This forces your mind to focus on what you have, rather than what you lack.
The Ultimate Good Gift
While the daily provisions are wonderful and worthy of our gratitude, the most profound and ultimate good gift God gave us is Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 NLT: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus is the ultimate “good gift” that God gave, not just to satisfy a temporary need, but to save us for all eternity. He is the proof that God truly loves us and will give us everything we need for life and godliness. When we consider the cross, all our trivial complaints about not getting what we want melt away. The gift of salvation is so immeasurable that it dwarfs all other desires.
A New Walk, A New Perspective
As Buckley and I continued our walk, his initial disdain for the biscuits gave way to an eager acceptance. He trusted that I, his owner, had his best interests at heart. He came back when called and took his food with joyful expectation.
In the same way, when we adjust our perspective and trust in the character of our Heavenly Father, our walk of faith changes. We stop scoffing at the “biscuits” and start appreciating the daily gifts that sustain us. We learn to rest in the knowledge that he is “good gifts” personified, and his love for us is far greater than our limited desires.
So, let’s learn from our canine companions. Let’s move from a place of limited expectation to one of joyful trust, confident in the truth that our Father will always, always give us good gifts.