Why Grace Upon Grace Exists

A Christ-centered counseling ministry built on God's mercy, faithfulness, and timing.

The creation and sustaining nature of this counseling ministry rests solely in the hands of the Lord. He has led me through so many winding paths and struggles, but I am convinced that His goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life (Ps. 23:6). 

I have yet to perfect a “long story short” version of how Grace Upon Grace Biblical Counseling actually began, so I will do my best to relay God’s faithfulness in a concise manner. The story of the ministry begins back in 2020 when I started to experience the call to ministry, but there was so much even before that! 

From Tornadoes to Theology: My First Calling

How a childhood dream of becoming a meteorologist revealed a deeper longing to help others feel safe.

Since I was a little girl, I had my heart and mind set upon becoming a research meteorologist. The weather here in Oklahoma just fascinated me and captured me after surviving the May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak.

All my life I worked hard towards getting into the University of Oklahoma’s meteorology program, where I had hoped to springboard off into researching tornadoes. I did end up getting admitted into the program and graduating from OU in 2018.

At the heart of it all, I had a desire to help others. I wanted to help others feel safe from the storms around them and to improve our understanding of them. It was a good desire. But, this good desire became the ultimate desire above all things. My career had turned into an idol. 

When God Changed My Direction

My salvation, spiritual awakening, and the moment I laid down my old dreams to follow Christ.

Fast forward a bit into the fall of 2018 where I was radically saved by Jesus, and at the age of 22 I laid down my life in exchange for eternity with Christ. My first year of following the Lord was filled with a lot of learning, and a lot of “unlearning”. I was devouring Scripture, devotionals, and anything else I could get my hands on.

I was blessed by God to have access to so many good resources and people that could point me to the picture of who God is. I began serving my local church and learning how I can teach others about the redemption of Christ. The more I served and the more I studied Scripture, I began to see how empty my career in meteorology really made me feel. It was absolutely embarrassing to acknowledge that my life-long dream had not been what I thought it would.

Discovering the Joy of Ministry

Serving in the local church, student ministry, and the first whisper of a new calling.

As I continued to serve and learn more, something began to shift in my heart. I started to notice the joy I felt every Wednesday night as I left our local student ministry. I easily recall one evening walking to my car as a thought not my own came up, “What if you could do this as a job?” I easily dismissed that thought - as I was still in the thick of my meteorology career. How could I give it all up after all of the years of education? Dreaming? Hoping? In so many words, the Lord very clearly revealed it was time for me to let go of my plans, and to surrender my hopes and dreams to Him. He let me wrestle as I learned to trust Him. 

A Clear Call to Biblical Counseling

How seminary, Scripture, and godly counsel confirmed a new path: faith-based counseling for women and teens.

The call to ministry became very clear and apparent after the world went upside down in 2020. I was able to quiet my mind and life to the point that I could follow the Spirit’s direction. Of course, there was more wrestling, seasons of depression, pursuing Christ-centered counseling for myself, and learning more about what it means to be led by the Good Shepherd.

By 2021 I knew it was time to apply for seminary and get a basic, theological degree that could serve me well as I pursued ministry. Even as I applied for seminary, I had zero idea how the Lord would have me serve in ministry. After I had chosen the seminary to apply to, I had noticed a certain emphasis point that really captured my attention. The emphasis was “biblical counseling” and I thought I had some sort of an idea of what it was.

I found it humorous because there was always a running joke with friends that if I couldn’t pursue meteorology, I should definitely be a counselor. I had also reflected that as I served in student ministry my schedule was full of one-on-one meetings with the teen girls as they struggled to apply Scripture to their daily lives. I decided to move forward with that emphasis point, and the rest fell into place. 

Wrestling, Waiting, and Walking in Faith

Facing closed doors, confusion, and the refining process that led to starting a ministry.

By the time I graduated seminary in 2024, I still had no idea what the Lord would have me do with my degree. I felt that by April 2024 every door I tried to open and pursue had slammed shut in my face. I felt discouraged. Confused. I asked God why He would lead me to this if there was nothing here for me.

I entered into another season of wrestling and learning to trust Him, even when it made no sense. I had felt whispers and embers of an idea to start my own counseling ministry, which were quickly doused with the reality and implications of doing so.

God had to purposefully and intentionally craft meetings and friendships with people in my life that spoke to every single worry or concern I had. Anything that felt daunting or too stressful was now met with a person who specialized in that area, who had been through that, who had also started up their own business or organization, or was willing to offer me free services in order to assist me.

I couldn’t deny it at that point: God was calling me to begin a ministry on my own. 

Why 'Grace Upon Grace'?

The power of John 1:16 and God’s unrelenting grace as the heartbeat of this counseling ministry.

As I was praying and thinking through what I would ever call a ministry like this, I had reflected and been encouraged by the recurring themes of God’s grace in my own life. I had felt that the Lord highlighted John 1:16 for me and that understanding and receiving His grace was my lifeline for deepening my relationship with Him.

Grace is the foundation for my salvation and my entire life. It was a no-brainer for me to incorporate this idea and understanding of God’s grace into a space for those who struggle to accept that grace, give it to others, or even try to fathom the Father’s love for themselves. 

Launched on a Day of New Beginnings

Launching Grace Upon Grace Biblical Counseling on a day of spiritual renewal and reflection.

God officially brought this ministry to fruition on October 3, 2024 - on the fitting, Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, where this biblical feast marks the start of a new year. This feast day represents a spiritual reset  - a call to remember, reflect, and begin again in light of God’s faithfulness.

I can’t help but see the hand of my Father extending out to me inviting me to begin again as I reflect on His “grace upon grace” in my own life.

Rooted in Redemption. Anchored in Hope.

Grace Upon Grace began with a simple prayer: “Lord, send me. Use me. Let others encounter You the way I have.”

This ministry began out of an honest prayer to the Lord to use me and send me as He wills, and that every person we minister to could experience the same grace that radically transformed me and led me to the God of every grace.