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120 | Have You Ever Felt Unsure? Leading with God-Breathed Truth (2 Timothy Bible Study)

• Paula Behrens | Christian Coach, Pastor, Certified Essential Oil Practitioner • Season 2

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The ground feels like it’s moving, but your soul doesn’t have to. We open 2 Timothy and step into Paul’s final words from a cold Roman cell—tender, urgent, and laser-focused on courage formed by grace. Timothy’s weight mirrors our own: culture confusion, leadership fatigue, and the ache to stay faithful when the noise swells. Through Paul’s fatherly voice, we find a roadmap: fan into flame what God already placed within you, receive the Spirit’s power, love, and a sound mind, and anchor your life to Scripture that is truly God breathed.

Across the letter, Paul sketches three unforgettable images that recalibrate how we live and lead. The soldier models focus without entanglement, refusing distractions that drain the mission. The athlete shows disciplined training when applause is absent, choosing steady formation over quick wins. The farmer teaches patient endurance, tending unseen roots long before fruit appears. These metaphors are not theory; they’re a practical rule of life for modern disciples who want resilient faith in an age of hurry and hype.

We also press into the heart of biblical authority: all Scripture "is inspired by God," θεόπνευστος (theopneustos)—alive, warm, and life-giving. When trends shift and preferences tug, truth becomes an act of love as we handle it carefully, preach it in and out of season, and let it correct us before we correct anyone else. Paul’s closing charge—fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith—turns from a eulogy into a rallying cry. You don’t have to feel strong to be strong; grace is strength received, not performed.

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Paula Behrens:

Have you ever had one of those seasons where it feels like the ground under your feet is shifting faster than you can regain balance? The kind of season where yesterday's courage feels a little wobbly today? That's exactly the kind of moment 2 Timothy steps into. Paul is writing this letter from a Roman dungeon, not house arrest, not a temporary holding cell, a hole in the ground, cold, dark, damp, forgotten. He knows his time is short, and Timothy, his beloved spiritual son, feels the weight of ministry, culture, confusion, and persecution pressing in. If 1 Timothy was a handbook for how to lead the church well, then 2 Timothy is a heart-to-heart conversation about how to lead your own soul well. It's personal, it's emotional, it's urgent, and it's incredibly grounding for Christians today who want to live purposefully in Christ, even when the world feels chaotic.

Paula Behrens:

This is Paul writing from a cold prison cell. This is Paul chained up like a criminal. This is Paul knowing his execution is near. This is Paul handing the baton of faith to the next generation. And tucked into these pages is encouragement for every woman who feels the stirring of God's call in her life, but sometimes wrestles with fear, hesitation, or not feeling like she's enough. Yes, Paul was speaking directly to Timothy, but make no mistake, the Holy Spirit knew you would one day open this letter, hear these words, and feel a spark ignite inside of you. And friend, if you stay with me until the end of this episode, I'm going to invite you to hang out with us in our Facebook group where you'll find encouragement, community, and free resources to help you keep growing.

Paula Behrens:

You know, there's nothing quite like preaching in a small rural church to keep you on your toes. Picture this. I was passionately delivering a sermon, feeling on fire with the Holy Spirit when suddenly the sanctuary doors swung open, and in sauntered an unexpected guest, a goat. Yes, a live, bleating goat, trotting right down the center aisle as if it owned the place. Now, being a city girl, I was quite proud of myself for instantly recognizing it wasn't just a furry visitor. Nope, I triumphantly proclaimed to the whole congregation, it's a goat. Meanwhile, the poor trustee chair sprang into action, bravely chasing the audacious goat around the pews and eventually escorting it out the front door. It was one of those church moments you just can't make up. A fitting reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of staying rooted in faith and where God is leading you, come what may. In life's unpredictable moments, whether it's a goat trotting down the center aisle or the chaos of daily routines pulling at your spirit, it's so easy to feel disconnected from God.

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. Please take a moment to follow the show, leave a review, and share with your friends who need a little biblical encouragement today.

Paula Behrens:

Hey friend, ever wonder how the Aroma of Christ coaching hour uses pure natural scents to bring calm and clarity into your faith walk? Let me give you a quick overview. Before our session, you'll get a free essential oil sampler in the mail, carefully selected aromas to use on our call together, where we'll dive into the Peace Reset. First, I'll guide you through using these soothing aromas to ease emotional stress, quiet your mind, and align your heart with God's peace in just minutes. Then we'll spend a little time cultivating a simple rhythm that fits seamlessly into your busy life. Small steps that add up without overwhelming your day. By the end, you'll feel refreshed, equipped, and ready to embrace more balance and faith as the mind connects the power of a pure and natural aroma with a deep sense of God's peace. Give yourself room to breathe. Head on over now to PaulaBehrens.com/coaching to book your spot. That's Paula Behrens, B-E-H-R-E-N-S.com/coaching (no spaces). It's time to take that simple step toward a calmer, more connected you. All right, let's get started. Grab your coffee, open your Bible, take a deep breath, and let's walk through this together, chapter by chapter, heart to heart.

Paula Behrens:

Paul starts with affection, real affection. He calls Timothy his dearly loved son. You can almost feel Paul reaching across generations, across miles, across prison walls, saying, I'm with you, I see you, I believe in you, and what God put in you is still in you. Timothy is discouraged, not because he's weak, but because he's human. He's tired, he's overwhelmed, and he's been pushed into leadership during a time when Christianity wasn't cute, trendy, or safe. It was costly. And Paul tells him, fan into flame the gift of God, not start a new fire, not find a different calling, not try harder. No, fan the flame you already have. Sometimes our calling doesn't need a renovation, it just needs oxygen. And Paul reminds Timothy where the oxygen comes from. God has not given you a spirit of fear, he says, but of power, love, and a sound mind. A spirit of power, not a moment of power, a spirit of love, not a fleeting emotion, a spirit of soundness, not perfection, but steadiness.

Paula Behrens:

And from there, Paul moves into the first real theme of the book, faithfulness under pressure. He invites Timothy to join him in suffering, not as a punishment, but as a participation in Christ. Now, this is a soft nudge for all of us who want to live on purpose. Faith doesn't become real when life is easy. Faith becomes real when we keep walking, even when life is hard. The second chapter has some of the richest imagery in the entire New Testament. Paul gives Timothy three pictures of ministry: a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Each one carries its own lesson about endurance, discipline, and focus. But before we get into those, there's a phrase in verse one that deserves to be highlighted. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul does not say be strong in yourself or be strong in your gifting or be strong in your experience. No, he says, be strong in grace. Meaning your strength isn't something you produce, it's something you receive. Grace is not passive. Grace is fuel.

Paula Behrens:

Paul then moves into a series of images to help Timothy understand the kind of grit, focus, and inner strength ministry requires. The first image he reaches for is the life of a soldier, not a harsh, militaristic one, but a committed one, a purposeful one, a soldier who knows why he's enlisted and who he's serving. And then Paul gives this line that often gets misunderstood. He says, A soldier does not get entangled in civilian affairs. Now he's not telling Timothy to withdraw from everyday life or to avoid people. Ministry is people. Instead, Paul is zeroing in on the soldier's focus. A soldier does not get entangled in civilian affairs, not because he avoids them, but because he refuses to be distracted by anything that pulls him off mission. Paul isn't telling Timothy to ignore everyday responsibilities. He's teaching him to stay free from the kind of entanglements that tie your hands, drain your focus, and dilute your calling. That's the kind of clarity Paul wants for Timothy. Stay engaged with the world God placed you in, but don't let the world hook into you in a way that slows you down. Keep your feet light, keep your attention sharp, keep your heart aligned with the mission Jesus entrusted to you.

Paula Behrens:

And then from the image of a soldier, Paul shifts to the image of an athlete, because sometimes the Christian life is less about battle and more about discipline, training, and the quiet, unseen choices that build strength over time. Finally, Paul brings in the farmer, hardworking, patient, and enduring. Farmers don't see fruit quickly, and most of the work they do happens underground where no one can see it. It's a beautiful reminder for those of us who serve Christ in hidden ways. God sees what's underground.

Paula Behrens:

Paul ends this chapter with a contrast. He says, God's word stands firm, but false teaching spreads like an infection. He names names, which might feel harsh to us today, but in Paul's mind, protecting the flock from destructive teaching was an act of love. He tells Timothy, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved. That phrase can sound performance-based, but Paul's heart isn't about pressure, it's about posture. Be the kind of person who studies God's word faithfully, handles truth carefully, and doesn't get swept away with every argument that floats through culture.

Paula Behrens:

Paul now turns Timothy's attention to something we all feel deeply in our generation: the instability of the world. People will be lovers of themselves, boastful, ungrateful, and without self-control. The list is long, and honestly, it reads like today's headlines. Paul is not fear-mongering. He's helping Timothy understand the landscape of ministry. I'm telling you this, Paul seems to say, so you don't lose heart when you see it. And in the middle of all of that, Paul lifts Timothy's spirit and points him right back to Scripture itself.

Paula Behrens:

In chapter 3, verse 16, we learn that all scripture is inspired by God. The Greek phrase translated into English as "inspired by God," theopneustos (θεόπνευστος), literally means God breathed, theopneustos (θεόπνευστος). It's a wonderfully rich phrase. It doesn't just mean scripture is inspired like a poem or a painting. It literally means the breath of God, His very Spirit fills these words, not mechanically dictated, not stiff or impersonal, but breathed, warm, alive, and life-giving. Just as God breathed life into Adam, he breathes life into the scriptures. When you read the Word, you're not reading stale ink on ancient paper, you're encountering something alive, something Holy, something that carries the very breath of God Himself.

Paula Behrens:

The Greek phrase, theopneustos (θεόπνευστος), reminds us that the Bible does not just teach truth, it imparts life. It bestows upon the reader a present power. And when life gets confusing, when culture feels overwhelming, when personal strength fades, the God-breathed Word steadies the soul. Paul wants Timothy to have this confidence because a leader's strength comes from scripture, not personality. Paul ties the truth directly to Timothy's upbringing, how scripture shaped him since childhood. For us today, it's a reminder that scripture grounds us, forms us, and equips us for every season we walk through. Paul says Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so God's people can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. This is what Scripture does. It shapes you, molds you, challenges you, strengthens you, and prepares you.

Paula Behrens:

As leaders walking with Christ, it's vital to fully embrace God's Word, honoring its complete authority without twisting it to fit what we, or culture, thinks is best. Now, I know that may sound counter-cultural these days, and indeed it is. Leaders in God's church are called to a higher standard. Distorting the Truth found there can mislead those who we are called to serve, pulling them away from God instead of drawing them near to Him. Therefore, make it a priority to let the inspired Word of God mold your soul first, allowing the Holy Spirit to work deeply within you. Paul urges Timothy and each of us to build on the firm foundation of Scripture in its pure, God-breathed form. This alone is the bedrock from which true leadership flows, helping us lead with integrity and grace.

Paula Behrens:

Next, we hear Paul telling Timothy to preach the word boldly and with confidence. This is Paul's final chapter, his final recorded words. If you've ever sat by the bedside of a loved one who knew their time was near, you know those moments become weighty. People say what matters most. Paul tells Timothy, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, meaning whether people want it or not, whether it's trendy or not, whether it's easy or not, stay faithful. He warns that a time is coming when people will prefer teachers who tell them what they want to hear. Again, very familiar in our day. But Paul's point is not to create anxiety, it's to create commitment. Stay true, stay steady, stay anchored. And then Paul says one of the most moving lines found in the Bible. He says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, not perfectly, not painlessly, not effortlessly, but faithfully. He looks ahead to the crown that Christ himself will give, not just to Paul, but to all who have loved His appearing. That includes you, that includes the people you minister to, that includes Christians navigating work-from-home routines, noisy schedules, and the desire to live purposefully in Christ. The end of this chapter feels like a personal journal entry. Paul misses Timothy. He feels the sting of abandonment from some, the comfort of others, and the hope of Christ above all. Second Timothy is not the letter of a defeated old man. It's the roar of a faithful one.

Paula Behrens:

So what does this mean for us today? Well, 2 Timothy calls us into a life of spirit-filled courage, a life of focus without entanglement, a life of disciplined endurance, a life shaped by the God-breathed Word, a life that stays faithful even when the world feels unsteady. This letter tells us you don't have to feel strong to be strong. You don't have to feel brave to choose courage. You don't have to feel ready to step forward in faith. God's Spirit equips you. God's Word grounds you, God's faithfulness sustains you. And like Timothy, you have a purpose, one that the world cannot cancel and the enemy cannot steal.

Paula Behrens:

If today's episode stirred your heart, strengthened your courage, or helped you feel just a little more grounded in Christ, I'd love for you to keep growing with us. Come hang out in our Facebook community, Biblical Encouragement and Devotional Rhythms with Essential Oils. You'll find listeners in Christ who are walking the same journey, wanting to grow, wanting to stay steady, wanting to live on purpose in Christ. And don't forget to grab this month's free resource waiting for you there. Just head over to DevotionDrops.com. That's Devotion Drops D-R-O-P-S .com, (no spaces), and it'll take you straight to the group. I can't wait to see you there.

Paula Behrens:

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 listeners 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 in to Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.

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