Living On Purpose In Christ | Journaling Prompts, Biblical Encouragement, Aromatherapy, Devotions, Affirmations, God's Peace

88 | Feeling Misunderstood? When Choosing Jesus Means Standing Alone

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

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What happens when your deepest faith collides with the world's expectations? When choosing Jesus means standing alone? This raw, heartfelt exploration takes us beyond superficial spirituality into the sacred space where suffering becomes purpose.

We often misunderstand Christian suffering, assuming it's about illness or general hardship. But Scripture reveals something different—a unique kind of suffering that comes directly from our faithfulness to Christ. For many women, this looks like family relationships strained by different values, social exclusion for refusing to compromise convictions, or the quiet loneliness of standing firm when everyone else bends.

This suffering isn't random or meaningless. It often emerges from spiritual warfare when your growing faith threatens darkness. The enemy doesn't attack what poses no threat. Your deepening prayers, Scripture study, and faithful witness make you a target because they make a difference. Yet this resistance also serves as God's refining process—burning away pride and self-sufficiency while strengthening authentic faith. Most beautifully, your personal pain becomes the very vessel through which you can minister to others, offering comfort from the same well you've drawn from.

The most profound gift in suffering for Christ is the sacred intimacy it creates with Him. When you walk the path of rejection and misunderstanding for His sake, you experience His heart in ways comfort could never reveal. This suffering doesn't separate you from Jesus—it draws you closer to His side.

Ready to find purpose in your pain? Book an Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens.com/coaching where we'll create personalized spiritual rhythms that deepen your connection with God even through difficult seasons. Together, let's discover how standing firm today leads to glory tomorrow.

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Paula Behrens:

Are you prepared to stand firm in your faith when the world turns away? What if the trials you're experiencing are not punishment but rather a path to your greater purpose? This space is for the woman who longs to walk closely with Jesus, even when the road is steep. It's a place where faith meets real life, where suffering isn't something to hide from but something to grow through. If you're feeling weary from standing firm, longing for a deeper connection with God or simply searching for hope in the hard places, you're not alone. Together, let's explore what it means to live anchored in God's Truth, strengthened by His Grace and committed to the Lord, even when it costs us something.

Paula Behrens:

But first funny story. 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. 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:

Are you curious about what actually happens in the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour? Let me walk you through it. First, we'll talk about your current routine, what's working, what's not, and where you feel stuck or dry. Then we'll walk through your spiritual goals, whether that's deeper intimacy with God, more peace or simply knowing how to stay consistent. Together, we'll build a realistic devotional routine that works for your real life, and I'll introduce you to ways essential oils can help you feel more grounded and connected during your time with the Lord. You'll leave with a custom devotional plan, simple next steps and a fresh wind in your spirit. Everything we do is led by the Spirit and grounded in grace, not guilt. So head on over now to paulabehrens. com/ coaching and book your session. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). It's time to bring beauty and balance back into your quiet time. All right, let's get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in.

Paula Behrens:

You're listening to Living on Purpose in Christ, the podcast where faith meets real life and purpose is rooted in the power of God's promises. Today's topic is all about carrying your cross and suffering for Jesus. Suffering is something that touches everyone and, as Christians, we need to understand that we are not exempt from it. In fact, scripture reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, we will experience tribulation in this life, not just as a result of living in a broken world, but specifically because of our faithfulness to Christ. This is especially important for women of faith who are seeking to deepen their walk with the Lord.

Paula Behrens:

You may be walking through a season where your faith in God feels misunderstood or your deep devotion to Christ has created a feeling of separation between you and your loved ones. If that's you, I want to encourage you today. God sees your faithfulness and he is with you in the midst of it all. There is a unique kind of suffering that comes not from general hardship, but from standing firm in your faith. This type of suffering often becomes evident when your commitment to Jesus begins to clash with the world around you. You may experience emotional pain, relational loss or even public rejection because of the values you hold and the way you live your life in obedience to God's Word. This isn't random or without meaning. It is part of the journey Jesus walked before you and it is part of the journey he calls us to follow.

Paula Behrens:

Jesus was very clear with his first disciples about what to expect, saying: If those in the world persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Suffering for Jesus involves facing difficulties, rejection, misunderstanding, trials and maybe even persecution as a direct result of your relationship with him. This is different from general life suffering, for example, physical illness, is not categorized as suffering for Christ. Nowhere in scripture do we see Jesus suffering from physical illness due to his obedience. What he did endure, however, was betrayal, hatred, injustice and, ultimately, death, all because of his faithfulness to the Father's will.

Paula Behrens:

So what might suffering for Jesus look like in our everyday life? For many Christian women, it may look like being misunderstood by family members who don't share your convictions. It might look like being excluded from certain social circles because you refuse to gossip, compromise your morals or go along with things that dishonor God. It could be the pain of standing alone as you strive to live a life that's fully surrendered to Christ. It might even include experiencing emotional distress or the subtle loneliness that comes from choosing God over acceptance by others. But here's the hope we hold on to. This suffering is not wasted. It is not meaningless. In fact, it carries incredible purpose and it draws us closer to the heart of Jesus like nothing else can. Let's take a closer look at why suffering for Christ occurs and how God uses it to shape and strengthen us.

Paula Behrens:

One of the most common reasons for this kind of suffering is spiritual warfare. As Christians, we are engaged in an ongoing battle between good and evil, between the light and the darkness. When you're actively pursuing a deeper relationship with God, when you're praying more, studying the word and sharing your faith, you become a threat to the enemy's agenda. This is especially true for the one who is taking spiritual authority in their own home, raising children to know the Lord, interceding for others or ministering in their community. When you draw closer to Jesus, you may notice an increase in spiritual resistance. It can feel like everything is falling apart just when you started moving forward. I've seen it often. That's not a coincidence. It's spiritual warfare trying to discourage you, distract you or make you question your calling. But we are not left defenseless. God's presence and power are our covering.

Paula Behrens:

Another reason God allows us to suffer for Jesus is refinement. As difficult as it may be, suffering has a way of refining our hearts, like fire refines gold. It burns away the things we don't need pride, self-sufficiency and shallow faith and it strengthens what remains. For many women, this refining process might look like going through a long season of waiting or facing hardship that strips away distractions and pushes you to your knees in prayer, and it's in that place, when we feel broken and in need for his presence, that we come to know God in a deeper, more personal way. Maybe you've had to walk through a painful divorce, a broken friendship or a season of rejection, and yet on the other side of that suffering, you found that your roots had grown deeper in Christ. You discovered a faith that was no longer dependent on circumstances but grounded in God's unchanging character. Even more beautifully, your suffering becomes a tool of ministry.

Paula Behrens:

2 Corinthians 1, verses 3-4, tells us that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we ourselves have received. Your experience, no matter how painful can be the very thing God uses to speak hope into someone else's life. Suffering for Jesus also draws us into deeper fellowship with him. There is a sacred nearness to Christ that comes through suffering. When you choose to remain faithful to God in the face of your pain, you are walking the same road Jesus walked. You are experiencing a piece of his heart that only those who have carried a Cross can truly understand. If you're listening today and your heart longs to know God more deeply, don't discount the difficult season you're in. It may be the very place where Jesus is revealing himself to you in new and intimate ways. You are not forgotten. You are being formed and you are not walking this road alone. Let's now talk about how to endure suffering in a way that will strengthen your relationship with Jesus and keep your heart rooted in his Peace.

Paula Behrens:

First, commit to prayer. Philippians, chapter 4, verses 6 through 7 encourages us, not to be anxious about anything, but, in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, to present our request to God and the promise his Peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When suffering becomes overwhelming, prayer becomes your anchor, and it doesn't have to be long or eloquent. Simply talk to God, be honest with him, share your fears, your doubts, your frustrations. Tell him how you really feel. Then thank him. Thank him not for the pain, but for his presence in it. Thank him for being faithful. Thank him for giving you strength to endure. Gratitude will shift your focus from your problems to God's promises.

Paula Behrens:

Second, choose to endure. This kind of endurance is not about gritting your teeth and surviving. It's about choosing to believe that God is good, sovereign, and working behind the scenes even when you can't see it. Sometimes it's perseverance that has you showing up for church when your heart is heavy. It means opening your Bible when the words feel dry. It means continuing to pray for your children, your spouse or your future, even when nothing seems to be changing. Faith is not just believing God can, it's trusting him even when he hasn't yet. Third, lean into community. Scripture tells us to carry one another's burdens and in doing so we fulfill the law of Christ. You were never meant to carry your cross alone. God designed us for connection, support and encouragement. Find a trusted friend, a small group or a godly mentor who will pray with you, listen without judgment and speak truth into your life. Strength in the kingdom of God looks like humility. Strength is reaching out when you're hurting and allowing others to come along side you.

Paula Behrens:

Before we close, I want to clarify something important. Suffering for Jesus is not the same as suffering from illness or experiencing hardship due to sin. While God can use all things for his glory, not all suffering is persecution. Illness is a result of the fall. There is no biblical record of Jesus ever suffering sickness as part of his obedience. Likewise, if you're experiencing consequences from disobedience, that's a different kind of suffering, but even then, God's mercy is available. He can redeem every broken area of your life.

Paula Behrens:

Finally, suffering for Christ is not something we chase after. We don't seek out pain to feel holy. We simply choose daily obedience, and when suffering comes as a result, we bear it with faith, hope and love. Every day, we, as believers, are invited to choose Truth over comfort, obedience over popularity and Jesus over everything. If you find yourself in a season of suffering for Christ right now, I want to encourage you to stand firm, keep your eyes on Jesus, keep moving forward and know that God is not punishing you. He is purifying you, he is preparing you and he is walking beside you every step of the way, because bearing the cross today leads to eternal glory tomorrow.

Paula Behrens:

If today's message stirred something deep within you, a longing to draw nearer to Jesus in the midst of your suffering, I want to personally invite you to take the next step by booking an Aroma of Christ coaching hour. During this one-on-one session, we'll meet over Zoom for a meaningful time of spiritual guidance tailored specifically to your current season. Together, we'll craft a personalized devotional rhythm that fits your lifestyle and nurtures your walk with God. You'll also receive step-by-step support in using essential oils as sensory anchors in your quiet time, helping you reconnect with peace and clarity in your spirit. This coaching hour includes biblical encouragement, focused prayer, a bonus peace reset and practical strategies to deepen your relationship with Christ.

Paula Behrens:

If your heart is longing for more and you're ready to move forward with intention and grace, go right now to paulabehrens. com/ coaching to reserve your spot. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S . com/ coaching (no spaces). Let's walk this sacred journey together, surrounded by truth, purpose and the sweet aroma of His presence. Thank you for tuning in today and remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more women like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week 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.