Living On Purpose In Christ | Boundaries, Devotions, Positive Affirmations, Bible Study, Christian, Faith, Scripture

79 | Anchored in the Storm: A Journey of Faith, Doubt, Trauma and Grace

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Aroma Freedom Practitioner • Season 2

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What happens when the crisis you're walking through leaves you questioning God? How do you pray when words fail you? This deeply personal episode takes you into the heart of a grandmother's wait to learn that her grandchildren were finally reunited with family during the catastrophic Guadalupe flash flood of July 4, 2025.

Between the cracks of this terrifying story emerges a profound truth about spiritual growth: it often happens not despite our storms but directly through them. God doesn't wait for us to be strong—He meets us in our unraveling. You'll discover how a colleague's foreshadowing dream reveals God's advance preparation, mobilizing intercession before the crisis even began.

From this crucible experience emerge five spiritual anchors anyone can hold onto during life's storms: breath prayers that steady your nervous system, scripture repetition that grounds your mind, intentional God-sightings that open your spiritual eyes, worship music that speaks when you cannot, and sacred aromas that offer sensory reminders of God's presence.

Whether you're currently navigating choppy waters or supporting someone who is, this episode offers honest companionship for the journey. Remember: your pain is not wasted. Your prayers, no matter how messy, are heard. When the floods rise—literally or figuratively—you are still held, still seen, and God remains right there with you in the messy middle of it all.

Ready to rebuild your spiritual rhythm after your own storm? Book an Aroma of Christ coaching hour and discover how to create simple, life-giving devotional practices tailored to your real life at paulabehrens.com/coaching.

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Paula Behrens:

When life hits without warning have you ever asked, God where are you? When the floodwaters rise, literally or figuratively, and your prayers are so raw they barely form words, have you asked that question? Well, in today's episode, I want to bring you into a space where honesty meets hope. We'll explore how spiritual growth often happens in the murky places of doubt, trauma and uncertainty, and I'll share one of the most terrifying, faith-stretching days of my life July 4th 2025, when my grand twins, Eli and Callie, were caught in the catastrophic Guadalupe River flood.

Paula Behrens:

When I first began my seminary work, while serving two church congregations full-time, everyone assumed I had my daily devotional time perfectly organized. But, truth be told, there were mornings I could barely find five minutes to catch my breath, let alone dive into deep reflection. One day, as I rushed out the door with mismatched shoes, I realized that even in my chaos, there was a lesson. Embracing God's grace and self-forgiveness, I realized that true success in my devotional life requires prioritizing my spiritual practices.

Paula Behrens:

Are you finding it challenging to maintain your spiritual practices or yearning for a more peaceful, God-aligned day? I'm Paula and I've been there too. Balancing spiritual habits with a busy life can be difficult. I longed for a deeper connection with God, but struggled with consistency. Then I found the perfect approach. If you seek simple ways to deepen your connection with God, this podcast is for you.

Paula Behrens:

Friend, have you ever sat down with your Bible, a cup of tea and high hopes for a quiet moment with the Lord, only to find your mind racing with to-do lists, your spirit distracted or your heart dry? I remember a season when my spiritual life felt more like a checklist than a connection. I had a book of prayers, a seminary degree and even my favorite kneeling rail in my office, but, truthfully, I was just going through the motions at that time. I was hungry for more, more peace, more presence, more of God. I was showing up with all the right tools, but none of the soul-satisfying stillness I craved. My time with God became something I did not something I delighted in. I craved intimacy with God, but I didn't know how to break out of that cycle of routine spirituality. Then the Lord gently reminded me, he never asked me for polished prayers or perfect discipline, he just wanted my presence. And from that moment on, I began creating a space to simply be with him. I built a new rhythm, one that was deeply rooted in grace, filled with scripture and supported by the soothing presence of his creation, including essential oils that helped me slow down and breathe in deeply. That sacred rhythm is what I now share in the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour.

Paula Behrens:

This one-on-one session is for the person who's ready to stop striving and start resting in God again. Whether you're spiritually weary, stuck in a routine or longing for a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit, this hour is your invitation to begin again with grace. I'll walk alongside you to create a personalized devotional routine that works with your real life, not against it. Together, we'll craft a practice that helps you feel grounded, nourished and deeply connected to God: mind, body and spirit. You don't have to keep trying to figure it out all on your own. There's a simple way to grow in faith and draw near to God, and I'd be honored to help you find it. Let's breathe in His peace. Let's rediscover His presence. Let's begin again together. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens. com/ coaching. That's Paula Behrens B- E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces).

Paula Behrens:

Before we get started, I'd like to give a shout out to Terri L Lee. She left a review titled "Speaking Truth" and she said, Here you will find practical ways to grow spiritually that are encouraging and doable. Great show! Well, thank you, Terri. If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it. On Apple Podcasts, simply scroll down to the five-star rating section and click on Leave a Review. If you're using a PC, open the iTunes app and you'll find the link near the top. Share your thoughts with us today and your review could be showcased on one of our upcoming episodes.

Paula Behrens:

All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible. Dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in. If you've ever been through a crisis or find yourself walking through one now, this conversation is for you. Today, let's pause and discover how God grows us, not in spite of the storm, but right through it. The truth is this, God doesn't wait for us to be strong. He meets us in the unraveling.

Paula Behrens:

In today's episode, we'll explore themes of fear, intercession, unexpected peace and the undeniable presence of God. Let's begin by identifying something many of us experience but don't always know how to name the fog we find ourselves in, the spiritual fog of uncertainty, confusion, emotional exhaustion or a sense that God is distant or silent. You may still believe, you may still go to church and pray, but your spirit feels numb or panicked, or maybe even lost. For me, the fog has taken many forms over the years, but none quite like the one that settled over me early on July 4, 2025. Please bear with me, though. This is a difficult story to share.

Paula Behrens:

That morning I was in Houston. My grand twins, Eli and Callie, were at summer camp in the Hill Country of Texas. Callie was at Camp Mystic, nestled along the Guadalupe River. Eli was at Camp La Junta, another camp (for boys) not too far from her. Around 3 AM, while the campers and their counselors were sound asleep, flash flooding began. The rain had been steady for days, but no one expected the river to rise with such force, speed and destruction. By sunrise, local news began reporting that the Guadalupe River had overflowed its banks dramatically. Camp Mystic had been hit the hardest. Campers were stranded, roads were destroyed. Some of the girls closest to the river were swept away by the rushing floodwaters, as they rose to over 26 feet within 45 minutes, and communications were down. A young girl from Camp Mystic was later rescued at another camp, desperately clinging to a log for safety. We couldn't reach the twins. We couldn't reach the camps. We didn't know where Callie and Eli were or what conditions they were enduring. All we had was an email blast that went out to over 700 camper parents that, unless they had received a call earlier stating otherwise, their children were safe. I froze, then I wept, then I prayed.

Paula Behrens:

As a pastor, I've often stood beside others in crisis. I've offered prayers, quoted scripture and walked people through their hardest moments, but nothing prepares you to sit in your own crisis. That morning I posted this: Prayers please, for my grand twins, Eli and Callie, and other campers stranded in the Guadalupe River flood. We received news that the two of them are currently safe, but some of the girls in Camp Mystic are still missing. We have no way to reach them and I can't stop crying. Prayers needed for the search and rescue teams, that the missing girls are safe, and that all of them will be rescued soon without too much trauma.

Paula Behrens:

Even after hearing they were safe, I still couldn't rest. What did safe mean? Were they dry? Were they terrified? Were they hungry? Were they enduring a trauma that would affect their little lives for years to come?

Paula Behrens:

In those moments, doubt crept in and you know what? I let it, not because I was losing faith, but because my relationship with God is real, raw and honest. If you've ever doubted, you are in good company. Scripture is full of people who ask hard questions, like Thomas, who needed to see Jesus for himself, David who cried, How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? And Job, who questioned God in his suffering. God didn't punish them for their doubt. He met them there, and he met me too.

Paula Behrens:

During those agonizing hours of waiting, I couldn't form eloquent prayers. My cries to God were often one-worded prayers like, Jesus, help or please. And yet the body of Christ surrounded me. Friends sent messages, family checked in, and then came something unexpected. After they were safe, a clergy colleague, someone I hadn't spoken to in a while, reached out and said: "Two weeks ago I had a dream that a grandmother called me in distress. She told me her grandchildren, a boy and a girl, were missing from camp. I didn't know who it was for, but I began praying immediately." In my heart, I knew that Pastor Susie's dream was a foreshadowing, a prompting from the Holy Spirit, and that God was raising up intercession before we even knew we needed it. Finally, after nearly 16 hours of waiting, the news came. Eli was safe. Callie was safe. They had been reunited with their parents. I cried harder than before, not with fear this time, but with gratitude. And despite thinking that I would lie awake all night, I slept, I rested, not because everything made sense, but because I knew Who had kept them. I had seen God move. I had felt his hand steady mine.

Paula Behrens:

Psalm, chapter 46, verse 1 says, God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. That verse wasn't just theory to me, it was my reality. As our family rejoiced, our hearts were also broken. Some campers didn't make it home, some families experienced the unimaginable, and I want to speak directly to that pain. To those families, we grieve with you. To the counselors and directors who did their best in chaos, we honor you. To the first responders who saw what no one should ever see, we thank you. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are not without our prayers. God holds your grief just as tenderly as he holds our gratitude. We live in a world where both can exist, joy and sorrow, praise and lament.

Paula Behrens:

Now we often think spiritual growth comes through Bible study and church attendance. But it also comes through silence, survival and surrender. Growth looks like: whispering a prayer in the dark, breathing through panic, choosing faith when you feel fragile, worshiping with tears in your eyes. Psalm chapter 126, verse 5 says, Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Your pain is not wasted. Your prayers, no matter how messy, are heard.

Paula Behrens:

Here are five spiritual anchors you can hold on to in your own storm. Practice breath prayers. Inhale - Jesus you are near. Exhale - I trust you now. Speak one scripture on repeat, like Psalm chapter 34. 18, which says, The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Reflect on the day's events. Ask yourself, where did I see God today? Then worship. Let music speak when you can't. Play it softly. Let it minister to your heart and soul and, of course, use sacred aromas. Breathe in the soothing molecules of essential oils like frankincense during your quiet time as a grounding cue that God is with you.

Paula Behrens:

You don't need hours, just a few moments of sacred connection. Settle in, sit in silence. Then, when you are ready, read one scripture passage slowly. Let it speak to you. Write honestly, don't edit your journaling. Whisper a closing prayer like: God, I trust you even now. Let a worship song close your time. This isn't about performance, it's about presence.

Paula Behrens:

Before we close, let us not forget those who didn't get the good news we received that day. Let us pray together. Heavenly Father, we lift up every family who experienced loss in the Guadalupe River flood. Wrap them in the comfort only You can provide. Let their hearts feel Your nearness in their unbearable sorrow. We pray for the campers, staff and communities still grappling with fear and trauma. Heal every emotional wound, bring restoration in places we cannot reach. For the rescue teams and first responders who put their lives on the line, we thank You. Bless them with peace, replenish their strength. Let them know they were Your hands and feet. And Lord, for every person walking through a different kind of storm, remind them that they are not alone. Remind them that You are with them in the dark, in the silence, in the flood. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Paula Behrens:

If you remember nothing else from this episode, remember this, God is near. Your storm has not gone unnoticed. Your tears have not been in vain. You are not alone. And if you need help rebuilding your spiritual rhythm after a storm, I invite you to book an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour with me at PaulaBehrens. com/ coaching. Together, we can create a simple, life-giving devotional plan that meets you where you are, in joy or sorrow, peace or pain.

Paula Behrens:

Thank you for joining me today on Living on Purpose in Christ. I'm Paula Behrens. When the floods rise, may you remember you are still held, you are still seen and God is right there with you in the middle of it all, in the often messy middle of it all. You don't have to walk this path alone. God is with you. Reach out to him and he will answer. Thank you for tuning in today... If this episode has touched your heart, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. I look forward to connecting with you soon. Join us next time as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.