I confess—I am an overthinker. Back in 2021, when I first began my illustrated topical Bible studies, my only thoughts were that I wanted absolute truth. I needed to get the Word in me. I wanted to understand. I wasn’t thinking much beyond that.
I’m a very visual person; I need to see things to grasp them fully. Simply reading isn’t always enough for me—I retain information better when I write it out, sometimes multiple times. I imagined I wasn’t the only one who learned this way, so I began sharing my studies, hoping they would help others understand more about the Lord and His Word.
Over the next two and a half years, I immersed myself in these studies, accumulating over 100. I shared them with friends via social media and email so they could print and keep them whenever needed. Many of my sweet friends encouraged me to compile them into a book, but I struggled with the idea of making a profit from something I felt God was doing through me. I had seen others abuse such opportunities and never wanted to be one of them. I was perfectly content sharing these studies freely with anyone who asked.
For most of 2024, I completed only a few studies, but one day, I found myself staring at the large binder filled with them. They had been such a beautiful blessing. I asked the Lord, “What next?” It seemed like a shame for them to just sit there after all He had done through them in me.
Then, in February, I felt a strong, undeniable push to begin sorting and compiling them. I had no idea how to publish a book, but I kept feeling that pressure to move forward. With the encouragement and advice of some wonderful friends, I worked through countless hurdles. Whenever I hit an obstacle, I thought, I’m absolutely not doing this! But God kept pressing, providing, and encouraging.
My two biggest hurdles were the book’s size and its cost. After much prayer and advice and letting go of my expectations, I finally became content with the book’s size. But the cost… that was a tough one. Not being an avid book buyer, being a single mom on a fixed income, and rarely having money for extras, I was extremely conscious of setting a price. I didn’t want to make the book unaffordable for people like me. For weeks, I researched and sought advice, but I grew frustrated with my own indecision and overthinking.
Finally, I prayed, “Lord, tell me the cost, please, so I can finish this!”
His reply? “I give the growth.”
That led me to 1 Corinthians 3:7. At first, I wasn’t sure how this verse applied—it speaks of division in the church over whom people wanted to follow. But as I sat with it, I realized I was divided within myself. I was fixated on the price when that wasn’t the focus or purpose of this book. The seeds had been planted and watered—now it was time to let God be God. No matter what price I set, if this was His will, He would provide and bring the growth. The foundation of this book is Jesus. It’s about Him. Those who need it will have it. So, in a very “Katrinna-like” fashion, I did eenie, meenie, miney, moe, landed on a price, and clicked publish!
(1 Corinthians 3:7, ESV) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
