“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)
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 the animals should take all 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 wore down his webbed feet, and his grade dropped to average in swimming. But everyone 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 made him start from the ground instead of the treetop. He developed muscle cramps from overextending, so he only got a “C” in climbing and a “D” in running.
The eagle was the troublemaker. In climbing class, he beat everyone to the top—but flew instead. Refusing 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 I expect everyone to fit in the same mold, the result is frustration, discouragement, mediocrity, and failure.
God made me to be me. He has given me unique abilities, and he wants me to use them the way he intended.
If I wonder what God’s will is for my life? Look at my abilities. The act like a road map; they help point me in the direction I should go.
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 my abilities, God has equipped me to do his will. As I use those abilities, I'll start to see how he produces “every good thing” in my life.
In summary:
Hebrews 13:21 reminds me that God equips each person with exactly what they need to do His will, and the story of the animals’ school illustrates what happens when unique design is ignored and everyone is forced into the same mold—frustration, discouragement, and failure. Just as ducks, rabbits, squirrels, and eagles are created to excel in different ways, God has designed each person with distinct abilities meant to be used intentionally, not suppressed or compared. When I try to fit myself or others into a uniform expectation, I miss God’s purpose; but when I recognize my abilities as a road map to His will, I begin to understand how He has already equipped me. As I use the gifts He’s given me, God works through the power of Christ to produce good things that please Him and fulfill His purpose for my life.
Bottom Line:
God has uniquely designed and equipped me for His will, and lasting fruit comes when I stop trying to fit someone else’s mold and faithfully use the abilities He has already given me.
Next Step:
Do a focused ability and alignment audit this week. Identify the 3–5 abilities or strengths God has most clearly given me (skills you’re effective at, energized by, and that consistently add value to others). Then intentionally choose one concrete way to use one of those abilities in service—through coaching, teaching, mentoring, writing, or leading—rather than trying to do everything or fit expectations that don’t match your design.
Practically, this could look like:
Shaping a short devotional or leadership reflection around a strength you already use well
Designing one workshop or coaching conversation that leverages your natural gifts
Saying no to an obligation that pulls you away from your core calling
As I align my actions with how God uniquely equipped me, clarity, confidence, and fruitfulness will increase—and I'll model for others what it looks like to lead from design, not comparison.
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