So often, as I begin to feel like I understand what’s next in my journey, God gently reminds me of a few passages of scripture. (See Proverbs 16:9 NLT and 20:24 NLT below.) Our church was going through a series called “We Are The Church,” and God did just that. I had been mulling over the idea of starting a small group or community for a few weeks before this series began. Pastor Craig Groeschel preached a powerful message on community, and it became abundantly clear that this idea was not mine alone. God was calling me to begin what would become the Overflow community.
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 NLT
“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” Proverbs 20:24 NLT
In obedience, I signed up Saturday evening after hearing the message without a plan for what this community would look like. I was saying “Yes” to God’s direction not knowing what it might entail. I spent a lot of time seeking God for wisdom and direction. My group info was posted Tuesday morning, and by 10 pm, I had two emails from people interested in the group.
The Back Story
A little over one year before all of this, I had been thinking about creating a community for those who experience anxiety and the people who love them. As I was working on what will be my first book, I began to see a great need for a community where people feel safe to ask tough questions, to be transparent about the challenges they are facing, and to be encouraged in their journey. I wanted to create a safe place where people could learn about mental health and what it means to follow Jesus. It sounds so basic, but I had never seen or heard of a place that welcomes questions about mental health and how it relates to our relationship with Jesus.