Made to Move Mountains

Kristen Welch has written a book that will speak to both the timid and the risk taker. The person who thinks there is something God might want for her to do, and the one who is already in the trenches. She speaks to the frustrations within us: “One minute I feel as if I am just getting started on this journey with God, and I am full of audacious plans; the next minute I’m angry at him for getting me into this mess.” Reminds us of how God works: “God wants us to trust him so much that we will do what he tells us, even when it goes against what feels right. God want our obedience because he fights battles in a way that brings glory to him instead of to us.” Calls us to action: “It’s not too late to do that one thing that scares you. It’s not too late to say I’m sorry. It’s not too late to take a risk. It’s not too late to obey God. It’s not too late to make today one that you won’t regret.”The call at the end of the book reminds us of who we are and why God created us. “You were made to move mountains. It is your purpose, your destiny. God created you to do what no one else can accomplish. He takes your unique gifts, your personality, and your past, and he places you in a position to do something only you can do. Your faith will increase on the climb. It will be hard and discouraging, overwhelming and difficult, but it will be worth it. It matters.” Kristen calls us to obedience and reminds us that we can do what God asks of us. This book will encourage you on your way.

Made to Move Mountains is not only just a visually beautiful book, but one woven together with beautiful stories of trials, joys, redemption, and overcoming insurmountable odds. Written from a place of raw vulnerability, Kristen invites us along on a journey through some of the largest mountains in her life, highlighting God’s faithfulness in all circumstances.This book is not a feel-good, happy-go-lucky, you’ve-got-this story. Instead, Kristen digs into what it means to scale the mountains God places in life. She doesn’t leave out the gritty, imperfect moments, nor does she offer platitudes that all will be fine. Instead, she opens her heart to us readers, sharing her struggles during the climb.At the beginning of this book, Kristen notes that mountains fall into two categories: dreams and disasters. “Dreams are the mountains we don’t have to climb but long to for some (often crazy) reason. Disasters are the mountains that we would never choose to climb.” Both require great strength, resilience, determination, and faithfulness. Both can come about unexpected, or may be seen coming from a distance. And both lead to challenges, unanswered questions, and doubt.I can easily recommend this book to those facing mountains in their own lives. Whether it’s the formidable and tantalizing mountain of a yet-to-be-realized dream, or the terrifying mountain of a disaster we wish we would never face, Kristen’s words are balm to the soul. Her honesty and vulnerability in sharing some of her own mountains highlight how impossible overcoming a mountain may seem. And yet, as the title suggests, God created us to move mountains. Time and again, Kristen shares how this has been true in her own life, and the impact of her obedience is incredible

Kristen Welch shares how big dreams and unexpected disasters can be mountains in life that we often must climb. The book is a raw, honest look at how these challenges can be used by God for the growth of our faith, His glory, and the salvation of others. Welch continuously points back to our need to trust in Jesus. She doesn’t end every story she shares (or even the entire book) with a neat bow that wraps everything up, but rather reminds us that we don’t always know the end and part of faith means trusting God even without our desired outcome.This book encourages you to lean on God when the unexpected happens and to obey Him even when it’s difficult. It wasn’t an easy read, but a though-provoking challenge. Each chapter ends with questions to consider and space to journal, so you can reflect and apply what you’ve read to your own life. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone with a desire to grow in their faith as they face challenges in life.My complaints are primarily technical. There are times when the book has many (or lengthy) quotes from other writers without much additional reflection on their words. The quotes are meaningful and relevant to the topic, I just found it a bit clunky to read at times. Something I found confusing were some of the passages where Welch is talking about her children. At times there are names and other times it is a phrase like “my 12-year-old,” so by the end of the book I still didn’t know who was who and thought she had 4 children. (Perhaps she writes that she has 3 and I forgot. I suspect that if I had read any of her other books or followed her blog I would not have had this problem.)