Once upon a time, some animals wanted to start a school. They decided the courses would include running, climbing, swimming, and flying. Then they decided that all of the animals should take all of the courses.

That’s where the problem started.

The duck was better than his teacher at swimming, but he only made passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. So they made him drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn, and his grade dropped to average in swimming. But everybody felt less threatened and more comfortable with that—except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but because of so much makeup work in swimming, he caught pneumonia and had to drop out of school.

The squirrel showed outstanding ability in climbing, but he was extremely frustrated in flying class because the teacher insisted that he start from the ground up rather than the treetop down. He developed charley horses from overextension, so he only got a “C” in climbing and a “D” in running.

The eagle was the problem student and was disciplined for being a nonconformist. For instance, in climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but he insisted on flying to get there. Finally, because he refused to participate in swimming class, he was expelled.

As you might imagine, the animals’ school didn’t work.

Different animals are designed to excel in specific areas, and they can’t be expected to do all the other things. A duck is made to be a duck—not anything else.

It’s the same for people. God has designed each person different from all the others. When you expect everyone to fit in the same mold, the result is frustration, discouragement, mediocrity, and failure.

God made you to be you. He has given you unique abilities, and he wants you to use them the way he intended.

Are you wondering what God’s will is for your life? Look at your abilities. They’re your road map; they point you in the direction you should go. When you know what you’re good at, then you can know what God wants you to do with your life.

The Bible says, “May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him” (Hebrews 13:21 NLT).

Through your abilities, God has equipped you to do his will. As you use those abilities, you’ll start to see how he produces “every good thing” in your life.