I’ve grown to really know and trust God’s voice, even if He calls me to do crazy things that I don’t understand at the moment. My responsibility is wholehearted obedience, no matter what. It’s not always easy, but it IS always worth it.
John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for those that love God…”
This is the story of how God set the prisoner free, mainly a specific prisoner… me.
Earlier this year (March 2015), the Lord told me to leave my beach house in Bradenton, FL and move to Georgia. He never told me where in Georgia, and He never told me why, but within a week, I packed up my house and made my way to Georgia. I deeply sought the Lord for direction and answers as to where I should live and what He wanted me to do. After a couple days of no answers, I decided to relieve some stress by visiting the Mall of Georgia. I saw a girl with a pretty floral shirt about to walk past me and I stopped her to ask where she bought it from. She proceeded to tell me that she just got back from something called the World Race. I asked her where she was from, and she told me she was originally from Florida, but God told her to move to Georgia. It was at THAT moment that I knew the Lord was calling me to the World Race.
Fast Forward to August 3,2015: My plan for the day was to relax and spend time with my Georgia friends, but God obviously had other plans for me. I woke up at 5:30am, exactly, with no alarm set, and felt the Lord tell me “I want you to drive to Adventures in Missions for their Monday morning worship service.” I protested, and told Him that I didn’t want to drive 2.5 hours through Atlanta rush-hour traffic and back. I tossed and turned for a few minutes, trying desperately to go back to sleep, but in the back of my mind, I kept wondering, “What does He have for me at the worship gathering?” “Does He want me to encourage someone?” “What am I going to miss out on if I don’t listen to Him?” Finally, I jumped out of bed, found a skirt and top, curled my hair, put on my makeup, and started the 2.5 hour drive to Gainesville, GA.
5 minutes away from my destination, I was pulled over by a cop. He asked me for my license and registration, and also asked what I was doing in Georgia since I had a Florida license plate. I told him about Adventures in Missions, the World Race, and my upcoming adventure in just 4 weeks. He told me that he was going to let me off with a warning, but still needed to run my license. He came back and said, “Ms. Garrison, Your license has been suspended as of 8 hours ago at midnight today.” What?! Apparently, on my way to Georgia for the first time, I ran a red light in Bradenton, FL and never paid the fine. Because I was in Georgia, I never saw the notice and had no idea about the unpaid fine. He informed me that he had no other option but to arrest me. At this point, I’m thinking “This is just too weird. I should be freaking out, but I’m not freaking out. Why would God tell me to drive here? He told me to get up and come here, so there’s a reason. This feels like a set-up…”
Sitting in the back of a cop car with handcuffs around my wrists felt so surreal. Before I knew it, we arrived at the jail, and I was taken to a room where I was frisked and asked to fill out medical paperwork. I was told that since I was dressed modestly, I didn’t have to change into the jailhouse shirt and pants. So, I was led to my holding cell wearing a blue tribal pattern maxi skirt, a dark blue v-neck shirt, with curled blonde hair and full makeup. I definitely stood out.
After calling my Dad to fill him in on the situation, I sat in my holding cell and just asked the Lord to give me wisdom and insight on how to handle this predicament. I couldn’t understand why, but I was entirely flooded by peace. As I sat in the room alone, I began to pray for the Lord to send me people to encourage, love on, and share the gospel with. I never imagined that I would ever be in jail, but since I was here, might as well make the most of it!
That’s when I met Katie. She was escorted to the same holding cell about an hour after I arrived. She was willing to share her story with me and began to tell me about her children, her jail history, and her intense addiction to a drug called GHB. “Everytime I would stick a needle in my arm, I would just hope to God that it would kill me.” Moments after she shared so vulnerably, she broke into tears and said “I would do anything to break this addiction.” I saw the opportunity to introduce her to The One who sets the captives free and breaks the chains of addictions. I asked her if I could pray over her, and through heavy tears, she said yes. God showed up in that moment, and I felt a tangible peace fill the room as we prayed. I told her that I knew God had a reason for me to be in that jail, and if it was to simply tell her that God has not given up on her and that He wants to set her free from her addiction, it was completely worth it.
After 5 hours in jail, I still hadn’t been booked. I called my dad from the wall phone in the holding cell to see how everything was progressing, and found out that my bail had been set to $1300. I approached the jailer and asked if there was any way I could pay with my debit card, and his response sparked a profound revelation that has forever impacted my view of God’s character.
“You can’t pay it yourself. You need someone to pay your debt and come get you.”
It didn’t matter if I had the money. What I needed most was a rescuer.
I was a prisoner. I could NOT get out. Even though so many people said to me “You don’t look like you belong here”, it didn’t change the fact that I was just as much an inmate as they were. I was stuck. The Lord began showing me the jail in a completely new way. He showed me how man-kind was trapped, prisoners to their own sin. No amount of good works could get them out. They needed a Rescuer, just as I needed a rescuer. As I kept thinking about this revelation, I heard the Lord say within my heart, “I am the God who sets the prisoners free.” I didn’t have a grasp of that concept until I was in a place where I DESPERATELY needed someone to rescue me. If no one decided to come, I would have no way to get out.
After close to 10 hours in that jail cell, I was starting to feel a sense of hopelessness set in. I called my dad to see if there’s been an update on my situation. “Karen is coming to get you.” I let out a sigh of relief and greatly anticipated the moment where I would be rescued. I teared up many times thinking about the moment I would see Karen, and the moment I would finally be free from this cell. Since I was alone, I spent the remaining time praying over the jail and singing hymns as Paul did. My heart began hurting for my other inmates that were overcome with hopelessness. God, also, began to give me pictures of the persecuted church in countries around the world that are imprisoned for their faith.
Finally, after 12 hours in the county jail, I was called to be released. I was internally processing all that God was teaching me that day. I knew this wasn’t something I could understand from simply “visiting” a prison. Visitors could come and go as they please, but prisoners don’t have that same freedom. I was led to a room where I was to collect my belongings and that’s when I saw Karen, my rescuer. She looked at me through the glass with eyes full of love, and when I was officially released, I ran out the door and collapsed in her arms. My debt was paid; I was free.
WAIT. THERE’S MORE!
I was informed when I was leaving the county jail house that I would have to appear in court September 23rd, which was a HUGE problem, because I was scheduled to leave the country for my World Race September 6th. I was slightly freaking out. I needed a MIRACLE for the court date to be moved up at least a whole month.
That’s when I reached out to my team to begin praying for me, and they were ON IT! As I prayed and asked the Lord what He wanted me to do, I felt in my heart that He was saying “Just watch”, like He was about to show off and wanted me to pay attention. Other friends told me, “If you really believe God led you into this, just listen and DO what He’s saying, and He will lead you out of this.” And that’s exactly what I intended to do.
My dad advised me to call the solicitor’s office immediately and ask them about moving my court date. I called everyday for ELEVEN DAYS straight. I started to see that the World Race launch date was quickly approaching, and I started to feel some anxiety set in. I’ve been told that God is pretty good with the exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine prayers… so I decided to give it a try.
“God, I’m asking that this court case would be completely dismissed.”
I asked the Lord to please act quickly, and I suddenly received a call from the solicitor informing me that he had a date available August 26th, which meant I would be able to make it to launch!! I informed my team, and they rejoiced with me. I told them to continue to pray for me to have favor with the Judge and the court, and for God to speak clearly to me regarding this situation. I still had a feeling God was going to do something big.
I told the squad about my prayer, and that I was going to take it one step further by writing a letter to the Judge, himself, to ask for a complete dismissal of my court case. My squad immediately responded positively, and asked if THEY could write a letter to him too. I can’t even explain to you how amazing it felt to be surrounded by people who were standing with me in agreement for God to do something nearly impossible.
Then, the impossible happened.
I woke up the morning of my court date feeling FULLY at peace. I asked the Lord what I should say and He only responded with this: “Few words.” I didn’t understand, but I know His voice, and I trust it more than anything. My name was called to a “check in” table, where many people were pleading guilty, non-guilty, or no contest and presented with their options before going into the courtroom. My heart was racing nervously as I saw many of the people in front of me getting large fines. I still had no idea what to say. “Few words.”
“Name?”
“Kayla Garrison”
“Reason for court?”
“Driving with suspended license”
“Is it reinstated”
“Yes sir.”
*he looks at case papers*
*calls to guy in the back* “I need a move for dismissal right here”
WAIT. WHAT?! How did that happen? That makes no sense. There’s no way that should have happened. I did NOTHING to make that happen, but it happened! The impossible happened!
He further explained to me that because the case was dismissed, it shall not appear on my record AND the ENTIRE bail amount will be reimbursed!!!! HOW GREAT IS GOD!? He definitely showed off more than I could have imagined! If He leads you to it, He will definitely lead you through it!
Through this situation, I’ve even become MORE firmly secure in knowing Him and knowing His voice. As I embark on this 11 month mission journey, I wholeheartedly trust Him to lead me in whatever way He wants to use me. He’s completely trustworthy. He set this prisoner free, and I’m going to tell the world of His goodness forever.
