Put Me in the Zoo

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9

In the children's story, Put Me in the Zoo, by Robert Lopshire, Spot tries everything to get put into the zoo. 

Do you know the story?

Spot is just sure he belongs there, and does all sorts of tricks to demonstrate his qualifications to the zookeeper and why he should be there. 

Spot's talents are quite amazing.  He takes his spots off and juggles them for the zookeeper--even places his spots in all sorts of odd places around the zoo.  After seeing his many talents, it's hard to understand why the zookeeper, and everyone else for that matter, wouldn't want him there.

But Spot doesn't get put in the zoo.

Have you ever felt like Spot?  Have you ever felt you were so qualified for something you just knew there had to be a neon sign pointing to you, announcing your qualifications to everyone within a hundred-mile radius?  You were sure you would be chosen.  There was no one better.

And, then . . . they didn't want you.

Have you ever experienced that?

I've experienced this kind of rejection more times than I can count.  Sometimes God has plans for us that are bigger and better than the obvious plans we see and have for ourselves.  And surely His path is one that will grow us in ways we could never even imagine.

The Holy Bible tells us in Isaiah 55:9, "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

And Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

I think that sometimes we sell ourselves short of God's best for our lives.  We aspire to less than His design and plan, and set the standards too low.

In the end of Put Me in the Zoo, Spot finds out he's better suited for the circus, and he flourishes there.  The place Spot tried so desperately to get in, wasn't really where he belonged at all.

I pray you are accepting of your own circus--the one God has just for you.

Goodnight, Runners.






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