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A couple of weeks ago me and the younger folks in the family were gifted with some free tickets to the local circus. It had been a while since I had been to the circus and some of my younger children never had, so going was a must.

When all three rings were working I found it impossible to keep up with them all. I just found one to focus on and kept my eyes on it. What I really enjoyed was when one act was working in the center ring, without anything going on in the other two. This way I did not have to decide which act I was going to watch, I just focused on the center ring and enjoyed the action.

After a while my eyes would see something moving around in the other two rings and I would have to take a look. What I would see is the circus workers busy getting the alternate rings ready for the next act. Quietly they go about their business without anyone seeing them; all eyes are focused on the ring with all the lights shining on it. Though there is action in all three rings only one is getting any attention from the spectators in the stands.

These behind the scene workers do their task without anyone knowing their name or giving them any attention yet without them the circus would grind to a halt. The fans would sit and have to wait for the next act to be prepared. They may be behind the scenes but they are very important players in the action of a circus.

I see our lives in God within the activity at the circus. We are busy with our lives; all the lights of our attention are focused on one thing. We keep juggling the same balls or walking the same tight rope, (raising kids, performing out jobs, getting married etc.) what is happening today is in the center ring, the main attraction.

Though we may be very busy with today, God is busy preparing the next act in our lives. He is using what is happening in the main ring no doubt as a part of that preparation. All the while there is something happening that we have no idea about. Your life is going on but God is using events all around you to prepare for the next plan in your life. Quietly without being seen, but like the workers at the circus very critical in keeping His plan for your life from grinding to a halt.

You may wonder why you have been in the same ring so long, why nothing has changed. It is simple; God (the ultimate ring master) is not through preparing the next ring for you. He is not ready to close down the ring your are in, or better yet He knows that we are not ready to close down the ring we are in. He has not finished preparing us and the next events for a change. Of course we do not know this because we are focused on the here and now but God sees the over all plan.

Nothing happens before its time, nothing happens without Gods hand in it. We must be patient to wait for the plan to take shape, though we do not see God we must trust that He is always at work.

While your life may seem like a circus, be sure of this the ring master is in control and nothing happens without His direction. Somewhere in the dark outside the sight of others He is working the next plan for your life.

With that in mind keep on juggling, until the lights come on and the band begins to play making another ring of activity the main focus of your life. Then move in that direction with the confidence that the behind the scenes work has been completed and it is time to go.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs: 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to keep the proper focus on today while trusting you with the future. We ask this in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ.