Living On Purpose In Christ | Biblical Encouragement, Aromatherapy, Devotions, Essential Oils, Daily Prayer, Journal Prompts

121 | Clarify Your Christian Calling: How to Know When God Is Nudging You

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

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Feeling faithful but foggy about your purpose? We explore how calling becomes clearer when we release perfection, slow down, and let God meet us in ordinary moments. Paula shares a candid story of wrestling with her own calling, from anxiety at an entrance review to discovering a path that shifted from pulpit to podcasting. Along the way, we reframe common myths—like the idea that there's only one calling—and lift up the sacred weight of quiet, unseen faithfulness.

We dig into the New Testament idea of kalesis (κλῆσις) as a personal, purposeful summons that shapes identity as much as activity. That lens opens space to see how holy desire and holy burden often meet: what breaks your heart, what brings joy, where energy rises instead of drains. You’ll hear practical ways to create a listening life—short prayer rhythms, Scripture focus, and sensory cues that calm the nervous system so your spirit can hear the Spirit. We talk honestly about fear dressed up as wisdom and how willingness precedes confidence. Nothing in your story is wasted; God redeems pain into compassion and redirects into maturity.

If you’re ready to move from insight to action, we map out the smallest next step—teach one person, write one paragraph, serve in one place—and why small obedience grows lasting impact. We also invite you to steady your growth with simple, consistent practices and a supportive community that journeys through Scripture, book by book (EssentialFaithJourney.com). Subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review to help others find the show. 

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Paula Behrens:

Today, we're walking straight into the heart of what it means to clarify your Christian calling in a world full of noise, distraction, doubt, and endless obligations. And stay tuned to the very end because if you've been longing for guidance, structure, and a steady way to grow, you're going to want to hear this. I'm going to tell you about an incredible journey through scripture, book by book, where you'll have support, printable studies, audio sessions, and a path that meets you right where you are. But first, let me tell you about my own personal calling.

Paula Behrens:

Years ago, I found myself in a full-blown debate with God about my calling, trying to negotiate my way out of it, as if that ever works. Eventually, after what felt like a series of divine eye rolls, I conceded and ended up at Houston Christian University to begin my undergrad degree, but not before hyperventilating during my entrance review, a meeting overseen by the professor who would later become my greatest supporter. It seemed like a scene out of a sitcom, but God had already written the punchline. I was exactly where I needed to be.

Paula Behrens:

Are you finding it difficult to figure out where God is leading you through the whirlwind of daily life? Perhaps, like me, you've had moments of doubt, surprise encounters, and maybe even a bit of overwhelm along the way. Well, if that resonates with you and you're yearning for clarity, peace, and faith-focused encouragement, this podcast is for you.

Paula Behrens:

Hey friend, I know what it's like to feel far from God, even when you're doing all the right things. You're showing up, you're praying, you're reading your Bible, but inside something feels disconnected. You wonder if you're doing enough, if God is even listening. You feel a little ashamed that your quiet time isn't what it used to be or what you hoped it would be. I want you to know you're not alone and you're not failing. God isn't asking for your perfection. He's just asking for your presence. That's what the Aroma of Christ's coaching hour is all about. No pressure, no performance, just God's presence. And as a special touch, you'll receive a free essential oil sampler ahead of time so you can experience how these simple tools can enhance our time together, creating an environment where peace and clarity can flourish. Let me walk with you into a slower Spirit-led rhythm that will help you reconnect with the One who's been waiting to refresh your soul all along. Say yes to peace, say yes to presence. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour now at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E N S .com/coaching (no spaces). 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.

Paula Behrens:

You know, for most of us, our struggle with the concept of calling is not because God is unclear, but because life is loud. There's a kind of soul noise that creeps in and makes it difficult to discern what God is saying. It comes from expectations, from exhaustion, from fear of the unknown, or maybe from wanting to do everything just right. Calling becomes foggy when we believe it has to arrive fully formed. But calling does not walk into your life like a completed blueprint. It unfolds like a sunrise, slowly, subtly, beautifully. You don't always see the moment the light shifts, but you feel it in your spirit.

Paula Behrens:

When women tell me I don't know what God is calling me to do, I gently say, Yes, you do. You just haven't slowed down long enough to recognize it. That's not said to shame anyone. It's to free you, because your calling is rarely hidden. It's usually present and active, woven into your desires, your burdens, your experiences, your giftings, your relationships, your patterns, your tears, and your joys. Calling is not discovered by striving, it's revealed by paying attention. Many Christians believe that calling is singular, like there's only one path God approves of, and everything else is failure. This is not true. Throughout Scripture, people lived out multiple callings in different seasons. Moses was a prince, a shepherd, a reluctant leader, a prophet, and a mentor. Deborah was both a judge and a military leader. Paul was a tent maker, a church planter, a preacher, and a writer. Callings shift as seasons change.

Paula Behrens:

Another misconception is that calling must be big or public to matter. That is absolutely false. Some of the most powerful kingdom callings are quiet, a mother discipling her children, a woman mentoring a young believer, a prayer warrior interceding daily for others, a caregiver showing the love of Christ to someone who is suffering. Even using essential oils intentionally to create moments of spiritual focus and calm, so you can listen to God's voice is part of your calling. These are not small, they are sacred. You don't have to be on a stage or behind a pulpit to be significant. You just have to be obedient.

Paula Behrens:

God's calling is rooted in relationship. You can't clarify your calling without first deepening your connection with the One who calls. This is why spiritual practices matter. This is why finding a moment of quiet, even if it's brief, matters. If you only have five minutes in the morning, use five minutes. If the car is the only place you can think, use the car. If the only quiet moment you have is in the shower, God is not offended. One of the most powerful ways to create this quiet is to use a sensory cue, something that signals to your body and mind that it's time to focus on God. Essential oils can do this beautifully. A drop of lavender on your wrist, diffusing frankincense, a deep breath with citrus to awaken alertness. These scents nurture your mind and body, gently calming your emotions so that your spirit can more clearly listen to the whisper of God. If you don't have essential oils yet, well, you're in for a big treat. Go right now to Why EssentialOils.com to find my favorites. That's why W-H-Y Essential Oils.com (no spaces).

Paula Behrens:

Now let's turn to our Greek word study for today. The Greek word for call in the sense of God's personal vocation is klēsis (κλῆσις). This word appears throughout the New Testament and carries a profound meaning. It's not simply a task to complete or a role to fill, it's a divine summons into purpose, identity, and relationship with Christ. One of the clearest examples is found in Ephesians 4: 1, where Paul writes, I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of your calling, klēsis (κλῆσις), with which you were called. Here, klēsis (κλῆσις) reminds us that God's calling is both personal and purposeful, inviting each believer into a life of meaningful obedience and transformation. The word itself emphasizes that God's call is always directed toward a specific purpose and is never generic. When God calls you, he's not pointing at a crowd and saying, Someone, go do this. He is calling you into a unique role that aligns with his eternal plan. Clarifying your calling is therefore inseparable from understanding God's purpose for your life. It begins with recognizing that God's invitation is personal, intentional, and transformative. Calling, or klēsis (κλῆσις), flows out of identity. In Scripture, God often reshapes people's lives and identities in tandem with his call. For example, Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter. Each renaming reflects a divine purpose intertwined with a calling. To understand your calling, you must recognize that God is shaping you into the person he designed you to be, not simply assigning you a role or a task.

Paula Behrens:

Finally, calling, klēsis (κλῆσις), implies ongoing action. Calling is not a past event, it's a lifelong invitation to grow, obey, and move deeper into God's purpose. When you feel uncertain or lost, it does not mean your calling has disappeared. Rather, God continues to summon you through scripture, prayer, holy desires, and even the quiet nudges in your daily life to step into the vocation He has designed uniquely for you. Many Christians feel guilty for having desires, as if desire is automatically selfish or unholy, but God often speaks through desire, not worldly desire, of course, not self-centered cravings, but the deeper stirrings that won't go away. Ask yourself, what breaks your heart? What brings you joy? What gives you energy instead of draining it? What can you not stop thinking about? These are not random. They are indicators. Calling is often found where holy desire and holy burden meet. And you don't need hours of solitude to notice this. All you need is awareness. You can ask these questions while making dinner, diffusing essential oils, walking the dog, or sitting in a waiting room. God is not limited by your schedule. He is only waiting for your attention.

Paula Behrens:

Fear loves to disguise itself as wisdom. Fear says, What if you fail? Fear says, What will people think? Fear says, You're too old, too late, too inexperienced, too broken. Fear sounds reasonable, but it is bondage dressed up as logic. Scripture shows us again and again, God does not call the confident, he calls the willing. And confidence comes later. Moses tried to disqualify himself. Gideon tried to hide. Jeremiah tried to explain how young he was. Esther tried to stay anonymous. God called them anyway. Fear does not disqualify you. It is simply a sign that you're stepping into something bigger than you. When fear rises, slow down, breathe deeply, and use grounding tools. Use essential oils like lavender, sandalwood, or bergamot to calm your nervous system enough to let your spirit respond instead of your fear. Fear may whisper in your ear, but God speaks louder. God's voice is steady, even when yours is shaking.

Paula Behrens:

Your calling is never random. God uses your past, your pain, your victories, your healing, your growth, your relationships, and your disappointments. Nothing is wasted. Some of you have walked through seasons of grief or trauma and wonder why. While God is not the author of evil, He is a redeemer of all things. He uses what was meant to destroy you to increase your compassion, discernment, wisdom, and strength. The enemy intends harm, but God redeems. Your story matters, your journey matters, your healing matters. Everything you have walked through has prepared you for the season you are now stepping into.

Paula Behrens:

Now we can't talk about calling without talking about the Holy Spirit. He is the one who empowers, guides, confirms, strengthens, and reveals your calling. He speaks through scripture, through conviction, through peace, through godly counsel, through doors opening or closing, through inner prompting, and sometimes through the restlessness that refuses to let you settle. The Spirit is the one who shapes your calling over time. When you sense a holy nudge, pay attention. When you feel persistent peace about something, lean in. When you feel stirred in your spirit, explore it. When you feel discomfort that keeps pointing to the same issue, ask God, what are you trying to reveal here? Calling is not about certainty, it's about sensitivity. The more you walk with the Holy Spirit, the clearer your calling will become.

Paula Behrens:

If you want to clarify your calling, prayer must be central. But prayer doesn't have to be long or elaborate. It doesn't have to be poetic. Sometimes the most powerful prayer is simply, Lord, show me. Set aside a moment each day to pray specifically about your calling. Ask God to highlight anything he wants you to notice. Ask him to increase your sensitivity to his voice. Ask him to remove distractions or fears that are clouding your judgment. Use essential oils intentionally during this time. As you breathe deeply, let your mind quiet and your spirit settle. Let your heart become a listening place. Prayer is not only speaking, it is receiving. It is becoming aware of God's movement. Over time, you'll begin to notice patterns. You'll begin to recognize themes. You'll begin to sense God's direction.

Paula Behrens:

Once you sense God is calling you toward something, take the smallest possible step. Not the biggest, not the boldest, not the most impressive, the smallest. Why? Because calling grows through obedience, not ambition. If you feel called to teach, teach one person. If you feel called to write, write one paragraph. If you feel called to mentor, reach out to one friend. If you feel called to serve, serve in one place. Small steps accumulate. Small obedience becomes big impact. Calling is clarified not by thinking, but by taking action.

Paula Behrens:

Sometimes God leads you down a path for a season and then redirects you. This is not failure. This is maturity. I experienced this firsthand myself, transitioning from pulpit to podcasting. God leads you through experiences that prepare you for the next season. He shifts your calling as you grow. Some of you have been clinging to an old calling because you're afraid to let go. But here's the truth: when God redirects, he also renews. He calls you into something new, something deeper, something more aligned with who he created you to be today, not who you were 10 years ago. Calling is not static, it is dynamic, and it evolves as you walk with Christ. Calling becomes clear when your spiritual rhythms are consistent, not perfect, consistent. That's why I love helping Christian women build small, meaningful rhythms where you will learn to use essential oils as sensory anchors while developing simple practices that meet you right where you are.

Paula Behrens:

Imagine carrying that fresh sense of peace and clarity into your everyday life, where your spiritual rhythms become the steady heartbeat of your day, not perfect, just consistent. That's when God's voice starts to shine through the noise, guiding you with that gentle wisdom you crave. And if you're eager to take it even further, to nurture a rhythm that carries, guides, and strengthens you all year long, let me invite you to join our Bible study circle. This isn't just another group, it's a heartfelt journey, book by book, through scripture, starting with the New Testament first, and then carrying through the old. For just $7 a month, you'll get practical tools like printable lessons, journal prompts that make you pause and reflect, discussion questions to spark deeper conversations, a supportive community, and companion audio sessions that feel like a warm chat with a friend. You can join the Bible study circle here at EssentialFaithJourney.com. That's Essential Faith Journey .com (no spaces). Let's keep building that foundation together.

Paula Behrens:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for calling each of us by name, for giving us purpose and identity in you. Lord, we ask for clarity today, for ears to hear your voice above the noise, eyes to see the path you have set before us, and hearts willing to follow wherever you will lead us. Help us to recognize the stirrings you place in our hearts as your invitations, not distractions. Guide our steps, quiet our fears, and give us courage to take even the smallest of steps in obedience. May our calling not be measured by the approval of others, but by our faithfulness to you. Holy Spirit, continue to guide, direct, and assure us so that we walk fully in the calling you design specifically for each of our lives. It is in Jesus' precious and holy name that we ask these things. Amen.

Paula Behrens:

Friend, I invite you to take a moment now to breathe, to notice, to pray, to follow the small nudges God is giving you, because your calling is waiting for you. It's always been waiting for you. It is personal, purposeful, and ongoing. You are called right here, right now, in the middle of the ordinary, into a life that matters and a purpose that will outlast the chaos of this world.

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 into Him and walking in His wisdom. See you next time.

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Paula Behrens

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