Limiting God

"And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread."
Mark 8:16

I literally laughed out loud when I read this passage. I don't ever remember reading it before, and it caught me off guard. In the very same chapter in Mark, Jesus fed the 4,000 with seven loaves. Two chapters before that, He fed 5,000+ with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. I don't know how much time passes between these verses, but it seems like a relatively short time after the feeding of the 4,000 that they get in the boat with Jesus, and He is taking an opportunity to teach them about the leaven of the Pharisees. The apostles are listening closely soaking in every word of Jesus' teaching. Not quite. They are whispering among themselves about forgetting to bring bread on the boat with them.

I love Jesus' response starting in vs. 17:
Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? 18 You have eyes, but you don't really see. You have ears, but you don't really listen. Remember when 19 I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Twelve." 20 "And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food?" They answered, "Seven." 21 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand yet?"

How many times do I do this same thing? In so many areas of my life, I limit God. I see His wondrous works, I know He can do anything, but I get anxious - worried - about little things. I doubt that He has time, or cares enough to take care of the "little" things.

31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:31-33