Chapter 4 of Katie Davis’ personal memoir, Kisses from Katie, sees Katie beginning to see the plan God has for her unfolding before her. She went to serve short term, teach in a kindergarten, share a little Jesus along the way. But soon she finds herself buying a large house (by Ugandan standards, not our own) from which to run her still undefined non-profit.
Katie describes this experience simply by saying, “I have learned that something happens when one makes herself available to God. He starts moving in ways no one could imagine.” (pg 43)
A friend has a saying, you can’t turn a parked car. In other words, God can’t move you if you’re standing still. Proverbs 16:9 reads, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” This assumes you’re already walking.
Books like Crazy Love, Radical, Hole in Your Gospel, and now Kisses from Katie challenge my status quo. My heart is moved to do something. But I need to get up and start moving. Of course, it doesn’t have to mean moving to Uganda like Katie. It might not mean moving at all. Sometimes it means saying yes to opportunity. But it might also mean saying no. It’s up to God to determine the steps.
Not long ago, I thought I knew where I was stepping, but God changed my course. Now I don’t know where I’m going, but I see God working around me. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not what I would plan. And I have absolutely no idea where I’m going.
Katie Davis first went to Uganda in 2007. This book took four years to write. I imagine it took that long to be able to look back and see what God had done and to appreciate what he was doing. I figure in my own life I will look back and see this “season” in my life completely differently than I see it now. Maybe. I don’t know. But what I do know, God is directing the steps and my car is moving.
This blog is part of a book club reading Kisses from Katie. Jason Stasyszen and Sarah Salter are leading the discussion. Head over to their blogs for more.