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

129 | Courage In Christianity: Faith That Stands Firm in a Shifting World

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

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When Christianity starts to feel like swimming upstream, we don't need louder opinions—we need deeper roots. As we explore the book of James together, we gain fresh perspectives: trials become fertile soil for endurance, wisdom is freely given to those who ask, and the call to live the Word is about transforming our habits, not just filling our minds. Of course, we acknowledge the real tensions—unchecked desires leading to temptation, the draw of favoritism, and how our words can bless or wound—and we propose clear practices for cultivating a steadfast faith.

James teaches that grace and action are not opposing forces but partners. We delve into the fruits of a living faith—generosity, integrity, patience, self-control—and the essential balance of mercy and truth for healing. Through exploration and Greek word study, we unpack terms like therapeuō , suggesting gradual care; sōzō, denoting restoring wholeness; and iaomai, implying instantaneous healing. This nuanced biblical encouragement instills hope for body and soul alike, under God's tender care.

We shift our focus from success based on status and wealth to character, justice, and compassion, grounding everything in humility and the belief that God comes near to the open-hearted. The central theme is teleios—maturity as wholeness, not flawlessness. You don’t need a platform to make a significant impact. Small, faithful steps in conversation, patience, prayer, and integrity are seeds that God transforms and grows.

For those desiring practical wisdom, honest encouragement, and a human yet holy path forward, you’ll find it all here. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs steady hope, and leave a review to help others discover the show. Let us know: which truth from James will you practice this week? Engage with devotions and journal prompts, incorporate essential oils and aromatherapy into your spiritual routines, and embrace a journey toward deeper spiritual growth.

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Paula Behrens:

Hey friend, faith was never meant to blend in. If following Jesus has started to feel like swimming upstream, at work, online, in conversations with friends, or even within the wider church, you're not imagining it. We are living in a world that is constantly shifting, redefining truth and pressuring believers to soften convictions in the name of comfort or approval. And yet, Scripture has always prepared God's people for moments exactly like this. Courageous Christianity is not loud for the sake of being loud, and it is not combative or defensive. It is steady, it is rooted, it stands firm when values blur and truth feels negotiable. It looks like believers who know what they believe, why they believe it, and who refuse to drift simply because the current is strong.

Paula Behrens:

The book of James speaks directly into this moment. It calls us out of passive belief and into active lived faith. Not faith that reacts in fear, but faith that responds with conviction, humility, and grace. In a shifting world, courageous Christianity does not retreat. It takes root. If you've ever wondered whether your faith is actually making a difference in the middle of your real life, then lean in close and stay with me all the way to the end because I want to personally invite you into something special. Our Bible study circle, where we slow scripture down, talk honestly about real life, and learn how to live our faith right where God has already placed us.

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 door swung open and in sauntered and 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:

In a world that often celebrates the loud and visible, it's easy to feel as though your quiet acts of devotion go unnoticed. Yet scripture assures us that God sees every hidden moment of faithfulness and he uses them to weave his redemptive story in ways we may never fully comprehend. If you're navigating past wounds, finding it challenging to practice grace in difficult relationships, are longing to see how God can use your seemingly small steps to create meaningful change, 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. 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 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:

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. Before our coaching call, you'll receive an essential oil sampler to use during our online session to enhance this fun spiritual journey. 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). 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:

James is written for believers who genuinely love Jesus but sometimes feel unsure about how faith is supposed to look once the church service ends. James is for Christians who are tired of compartmentalizing their spirituality. Faith over here, work over there, family somewhere else, and quietly wondering how it all fits together. James is for believers who want their faith to matter beyond good intentions and kind words. This letter may be short, but it carries weight. James does not take time warming us up or easing us in either. He speaks plainly, directly, and with the heart of a pastor who cares deeply about the health of God's people.

Paula Behrens:

James opens his letter by addressing believers who are scattered, pressured, misunderstood, and stretched thin. These were ordinary Christians trying to follow Jesus in the middle of trials, opposition, and internal struggles. They were doing their best to stay faithful while life kept pulling at them from every direction. And right out of the gate, James refrains suffering. Trials, he tells him, are not signs that God has stepped away. They are not proof that faith is failing. Trials are places where faith grows stronger roots. That doesn't mean trials are good or easy. James never pretends suffering is pleasant, but he does remind us that God is still good, even when trials come. Endurance, he explains, produces a faith that becomes steady, grounded, and whole, less reactive, less fragile, more anchored in trust.

Paula Behrens:

James then encourages believers to ask God for wisdom, not just spiritual knowledge, but practical wisdom for everyday decisions, wisdom for conversations, wisdom for relationships, wisdom for work, parenting, finances, and boundaries. And he reminds us that wisdom is not reserved for pastors or scholars or spiritual overachievers. No, God gives wisdom generously to anyone who asks with humility. Right here, James is already setting the tone. Faith is not abstract, faith is lived. He moves quickly into the topic of temptation, gently dismantling the idea that God sets traps for his children. Temptation, James explains, grows when unchecked desires take the lead. God does not entice us toward harm. God offers truth that leads towards life. James invites believers to understand themselves honestly, not with shame, but with clarity, so they can live with intention instead of confusion.

Paula Behrens:

Then James turns his attention to the Word of God itself. He urges believers not to merely listen to Scripture, but to allow it to shape their behavior. Hearing without doing, James says, is like looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you saw. The Word of God is meant to change us, he writes. It's meant to reach into habits, reactions, and choices. Scripture is not just information to consume, it is transformation to receive. And this is where James becomes especially meaningful for Christians who live quiet, faithful lives. James never measures faith by visibility, he measures it by obedience. He speaks to believers about partiality, warning against valuing people based on appearance, status, success, or usefulness. Faith, according to him, learns to see people the way God sees them. The poor, the overlooked, the unseen. They matter deeply to God, and therefore they must matter to us as well. James reminds us that mercy triumphs over judgment, not because judgment has no place, but because mercy reflects the heart of God.

Paula Behrens:

Biblical mercy is never permissive or misleading, though. It does not ignore the truth. It doesn't soften sin or redefine what God has clearly spoken. Mercy in Scripture always walks hand in hand with truth. When mercy is separated from truth, it stops being mercy at all and becomes deception. To misguide someone about what the Bible actually teaches is not an act of mercy. It may feel kind in the moment, but it ultimately harms rather than heals. True mercy loves people enough to point them toward God's truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable. James is not calling believers to abandon discernment or silence conviction. He is calling us to correct, guide, and restore others with humility, compassion, and love.

Paula Behrens:

Judgment, when rooted in pride or self-righteousness, pushes people away from God. But mercy, grounded in truth and grace, draws people closer to Him. Mercy does not lower God's standards, it helps people rise toward them. This is the heart of God that James wants believers to reflect, a heart that refuses cruelty, rejects deception, and chooses loving truth that leads to life. And this is not weakness, this is kingdom strength.

Paula Behrens:

As the letter unfolds, James arrives at one of the most quoted and often misunderstood statements in Scripture. Faith without works is dead. James is not contradicting salvation by grace. He is clarifying what real faith looks like once grace has taken hold. Work does not save us, but living faith naturally expresses itself. Faith breathes, faith moves, faith acts. Faith, he shows us, becomes visible in generosity, compassion, integrity, patience, and self-control. Then he addresses the tongue, and suddenly the letter feels very personal. Words matter, speech shapes relationships. What we say can either build life or cause deep wounds. James reminds believers that spiritual maturity is often revealed not in how we worship publicly, but in how we speak when we are tired, frustrated, disappointed, or misunderstood. James continues by contrasting earthly wisdom with heavenly wisdom. Then comes a call to humility. Submit yourself to God, James writes. Resist the devil. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. This is not a call to perfection, it is a call to posture. God meets the heart that is willing, not the one that pretends to have it altogether.

Paula Behrens:

Then James turns his attention to wealth and resources, cautioning believers not to place their trust in what can fade away. Money comes and goes, possessions wear out, but character lasts, justice matters, compassion matters. How we treat people, especially those who can't benefit us, matters deeply to God. And then James arrives at patience. He calls believers to be patient in suffering, patient in waiting, and patient with one another. He points to the prophets and to Job as reminders that endurance does not mean silence, denial, or passivity. It means trusting God while continuing to walk faithfully, even when answers take time. And it's right here at this tender intersection of faith and endurance that James turns our attention to prayer, confession, and healing.

Paula Behrens:

This is where faith becomes deeply relational and embodied. James asks simple, direct questions. Are you suffering? Pray. Are you cheerful? Praise. Are you sick? Call for prayer. Faith meets us where we are. James includes an instruction that many Christians read quickly without much thought, and that is "anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord." He doesn't explain it. He assumes his listeners will understand. In the early church, anointing with aromatic oils or what we call essential oils today was not strange. It was an expression of care, prayer, and faith. The anointing with aromatic oils had long been associated with consecration, healing, and God's presence. By James' time, the use of oil for healing had naturally moved from the Old Testament priesthood into the care ministry of the church. James links prayer, community, confession, forgiveness, and healing together. Healing is not isolated, it happens within relationships. Faith is not meant to be lived alone.

Paula Behrens:

And the Greek language gives us beautiful insight into the biblical word for healing. When the Gospels describe the disciples anointing the sick with oil for healing, such as in Matthew 10:11, or when Jesus speaks of "the leaves of the tree being for the healing of the nations," in Revelation 22:2, the word used there is therapeuō (θεραπεύω), therapeuō, which refers to healing that happens over time through care, attention, and well, a process. This is where we get the word therapy, therapeuō (θεραπεύω). This word reminds us that God often heals gradually through ongoing prayer and his presence. But in James 5:15, when it says the prayer of faith will make the sick well, the Greek word used there is sōzō (σῴζω), which means to save, to restore, to make whole. Sōzō (σῴζω) goes beyond physical healing. It includes emotional and spiritual restoration and points toward salvation itself. Then in 5:16, we hear, therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The Greek word here is iaomai (ἰάομαι), which refers to an instantaneous healing. You know, God can heal immediately. God can also heal over time. God can heal the body and also the soul. Scripture makes room for all of them. Now I don't know about you, but I find this so very interesting.

Paula Behrens:

Okay, before we close, I want to touch briefly on another Greek word from James that beautifully captures the heart of this letter. It's the same word we see in Hebrews, the word teleios (τέλειος). It's often translated as mature or complete, and James uses this word to describe what endurance produces. Faith does not aim at flawlessness, faith aims at wholeness. A faith that has been tested, shaped, and surrendered becomes steady.

Paula Behrens:

James ends his letter by reminding believers that helping someone turn back from wandering matters deeply to God. Quiet faithfulness saves lives. Gentle obedience carries eternal weight. And here is the encouragement I want to leave with you today. You do not need a platform to live your faith out powerfully. You do not need a title, you do not need perfect words, you just need willingness. The book of James calls believers to live their faith where they already are, in conversations, in patience, in prayer, in care, in integrity, and in love. If your life feels small, remember that seeds are also small, and God grows what is faithful.

Paula Behrens:

If you're longing for community where scripture becomes lived, not just learned, I would love to invite you to come hang out with us in our Bible study circle. Go right now to Essential Faith Journey.com to save your spot. That's Essential Faith Journey .com (no spaces). Our Bible study circle is a place for real conversations, shared faith, and growing together in Christ. And you don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to show up. Because faith grows best in community.

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've enjoyed this episode, we would truly appreciate it if you would take just a few moments to follow the show and leave a review. Also, prayerfully consider investing just one hour to deepen your faith and nurture your spiritual growth. Schedule your call now at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E-N-S .com/coaching (no spaces). Be sure to 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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