149 | I Want to Share My Faith But Don’t Know How: What 2 Peter Teaches Us (Bible Study)

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Your faith doesn’t usually fall apart all at once. More often, it drifts quietly through exhaustion, compromise, and that nagging sense that you’re not making an impact. In this episode, we slow down and walk through the letter of 2 Peter with a simple goal: to help you grow strong in your faith, stand firm in truth, and influence others for Christ without living under pressure or overwhelm.

If you’ve been feeling spiritually tired, scattered in your study of scripture, or in need of fresh biblical encouragement, this conversation will meet you there. Peter writes like a man who knows time is short, and his message is surprisingly practical for everyday faith, daily devotions, and the real emotions women carry as they try to stay grounded in Christ.

We talk about God’s promise that He has already given us everything we need for life and godliness, then trace what real spiritual growth looks like as we add to our faith with character, endurance, and love. We also unpack why spiritual forgetfulness makes us ineffective, and how daily time in God’s Word serves as steady remembrance rather than a hunt for something new.

From there, we anchor into the authority of Scripture and why the Bible is more than motivational content in a confusing world. Chapter two brings a needed warning about false teachers, discernment, and the difference between messages that sound freeing and truth that actually sets us free. Finally, we sit with Peter’s eternal perspective: God’s timing, God’s patience, and the question that should shape our choices right now: “What kind of people ought you to be?”

If you enjoy pairing your quiet time with essential oils or creating a peaceful space through aromatherapy, this episode will fit beautifully into that rhythm as you bring your feelings, questions, and faith before the Lord. It’s a steady, Scripture-rooted invitation to return to truth, strengthen your walk, and keep growing with purpose.

If you’re ready to go deeper, we also share ways to continue learning with printable Bible study resources, visit: PaulaBehrens.com/bible. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find steady encouragement and biblical truth.

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

YOUR NEXT STEPS:

*Accept Jesus into your heart*

"Partner with God In Your Business" (Free Event): Register HERE

"Which Woman Of the Bible Are You?" Take the Quiz

7 Prompt Cards (FREE): PaulaBehrens.com/prompt-cards

Visit our website: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com

Snag Freebies in our FB Group: DevotionDrops.com

Join the Private Bible Study Circle: EssentialFaithJourney.com

Free 15-Minute Discovery Call > PaulaBehrens.com#discoverycall

Email: hello@paulabehrens.com

Transcript

Why Your Struggles Matter

Paula Behrens 0:00

What if the very struggles you're walking through right now are the exact training ground God is using to prepare you to reach someone else for Christ? In today's episode, we're walking through the book of 2 Peter, in spirit, not in pressure, so you can understand how to grow strong in your faith, stand firm in truth, and confidently influence others in a world that often resists God. And stay with me until the end because I want to invite you to go deeper with printable study resources that will walk you through God's word in an easy and meaningful way. 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 and difficult relationships, or longing to see how God can use your seemingly small steps to create meaningful change, this podcast is for you. You want to grow closer to God, but your days are full and your devotional routine feels more like a struggle than a sanctuary? Well, that's where the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour comes to the rescue. It's a personalized one-on-one session that will help you deepen your relationship with God in a way that truly fits your real life without the pressure or overwhelm. On a private Zoom call, we'll use the Aroma Freedom technique to identify what's weighing on your heart, uncover the beliefs beneath the stress, and invite Jesus to bring healing and alignment. Now, you might be thinking, how can that be? Well, you'll receive an essential oil sampler before our session to support this sacred journey. After the call, you'll have everything you need: a planning guide, a gospel reading schedule, a prayer journal, and practical guidance for using the aroma freedom technique in the privacy of your own home to quiet your mind, settle your spirit, and create space for prayer. Before you know it, your time with God will be something you're excited about again. Let's make your devotional life easy, meaningful, and refreshingly Christ-centered. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBarons.com slash coaching. That's Paula Barons B-E-H R E N S dot com slash coaching no spaces. Look for a link in the show notes. Before we dive in, I have a quick favor to ask. If this podcast has been a blessing to you or helped you grow in your walk with Christ, would you take a moment to leave a review? It only takes a minute, and your words help more women discover this space and be encouraged in their faith as well. Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your support. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, cozy up to your favorite beverage, and let's dive in. There's something deeply personal about the book of 2 Peter. When you read it slowly, you begin to feel the urgency in Peter's voice. This is not a casual letter. This is a man who knows his time on earth is short. This is a seasoned follower of Christ, someone who walked with Jesus, failed publicly, was restored personally, and now writes with a burning desire to strengthen believers so they do not drift, weaken, or fall away. And if we're honest, that's exactly what many believers today are quietly struggling with. Not always outward rebellion, but inward drifting, not loud denial, but subtle compromise, not abandoning faith completely, but losing passion, clarity, and confidence. 2 Peter meets us right there. Peter is not just giving information, he is calling us to transformation. He begins by reminding us of a powerful truth. He says that God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness. He explains through our relationship with Christ, we already have access to his divine power, which strengthens and equips us to live in a way that reflects him. That truth alone shifts everything. Because if you believe you are lacking, you will live timidly. But if you understand that you are equipped, you will begin living intentionally. Peter then walks us through what spiritual growth looks like. He talks about adding to our faith. He describes a kind of building process. Faith is the foundation, but we are called to build on it with goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. This is not about striving to earn God's approval. It's about responding to the grace we have already been given. And here is where it becomes deeply practical. If you want to reach others for Christ, it doesn't start with having all the right words. It starts with becoming the kind of person whose life reflects him, reflects Christ. People are not listening to what we say, they are watching how we live. Peter makes it clear that when these qualities are increasing in us, we will be effective and fruitful in our knowledge of Jesus. But if we are absent, we become nearsighted and forget what God has done for us. That is a sobering thought, friend. It means spiritual forgetfulness leads to spiritual ineffectiveness. So if you've ever felt like your faith is not making an impact, Peter would gently guide you back to growth, not pressure, not performance, but intentional growth. One of the key words Peter uses in this letter is the Greek word gnosis (γνῶσις), which is often translated as knowledge. But this is not just head knowledge. This word carries the meaning of a deep, experiential, relational knowing. It's not simply knowing about Jesus, it's knowing him personally, intimately, and accurately. This kind of knowledge changes how we live. It affects our decisions, our reactions, our priorities, and our relationships. And here's why this matters. You cannot lead someone into a relationship you are not actively experiencing yourself. People can sense the difference between someone who knows about God and someone who truly knows Him. Peter is calling us into that deeper sense of knowing, a knowledge that not only informs, but also transforms. As Peter continues, he emphasizes something we don't often talk about enough today. In simple terms, he's saying, live in a way that reflects the reality of your salvation, not to earn it, but to confirm it. He reminds us that there is an eternal kingdom ahead, and how we live now matters. This perspective is so very important if you want to reach others for Christ. Because when you live with eternity in mind, you begin to see people differently. You stop seeing them as interruptions, and you start seeing them as souls. You stop focusing only on temporary comfort and you begin to care about eternal impact. Then Peter shifts into something incredibly important. He reminds believers of the truth they already know. He says he is not telling them anything new, but he wants to stir them up by helping them remember. And that alone is powerful. Because so often we are not struggling because we lack information, we are struggling because we forget. We forget who God is, we forget what he has done. We forget what matters most. And in forgetting, we drift. Peter understands this, he's been there, and that's why he repeats this truth. That's why your daily time with God matters so much to him. Not because you need new revelation every day, but because you need steady reminders, reminders that will keep your heart aligned. Peter then anchors everything in the authority of Scripture. He reminds his readers that the message they received was not a cleverly invented story. He says he was an eyewitness of Jesus' majesty. He saw it, he experienced it. But then he says something remarkable. He says that the prophetic word, the written word of God, is even more certain. That means your Bible is not just helpful, it is foundational. If you want to stand strong in a world full of confusion, your anchor must be God's word. And if you want to help others find truth, you need to know where truth comes from. Peter explains that scripture didn't come from human interpretation, but from men and women moved by the Holy Spirit. That means the Bible carries divine authority. So when you share scripture with someone, you are not just sharing your opinion, you are sharing truth that comes from God Himself. In chapter two, Peter shifts into a warning. And it's a strong one. He talks about false teachers. Now, this may feel heavy, but it is incredibly irrelevant. Because if you're going to reach others for Christ, you need discernment. Not everything labeled spiritual is from God. Not every message that sounds encouraging is rooted in his truth. Peter describes false teachers as people who secretly introduce destructive ideas. They may appear convincing, they may even sound appealing, but their message ultimately leads people away from the truth. He describes their motivations as driven by greed and self-interest. That's a clear contrast to the heart of Christ, which is self-giving love. Peter doesn't hold back either in describing the consequences of following false teachings. He reminds us that God sees, God knows, and God will bring justice. But he also reminds us that God knows how to rescue the godly. That balance is important. God is both just and merciful. For you and me, this means we can trust Him. We don't have to carry the burden of fixing everything or correcting everyone, but we do need to stay rooted in truth so that we ourselves are not pulled away. And when we encounter someone who has been influenced by false teaching, our role is not to argue aggressively, but to gently guide them back to truth. Peter continues by describing the emptiness of false promises. He talks about people who promise freedom, but they themselves are enslaved. That's something we often see today. Messages that say, do whatever you want, follow your truth, live without boundaries. It sounds like freedom, but without truth, it leads to bondage. Real freedom is found in Christ. And when you experience that freedom, you have something real to offer others. Not just ideas, not just inspiration, but truth that brings life. In the final chapter, Peter addresses something that still impacts us today. He talks about people who doubt and question the return of Christ. He says that in the last days, people will follow their own desires and mock the idea that Jesus is coming back. Sound familiar? Peter reminds us that just because something has not happened yet doesn't mean it will not happen. God's timing is not our timing. He explains that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. God is not slow, he is patient. And his patience has a purpose. He desires that people come to repentance. That means every day that passes is an opportunity, an opportunity for someone to turn to him, an opportunity for someone to hear the truth, an opportunity for you to be part of that story. Peter then brings us back to how we should live in light of eternity. He asks a powerful question of believers listening then and of us today. He asks, what kind of people ought you to be? That question's worth sitting with a while, because your life is not random. Your influence is not accidental. You are placed where you are for a reason. Peter calls us to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of the Lord. He reminds us that this world is temporary, but God is preparing something new, a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. That future hope should shape our present choices. And then Peter ends with a final encouragement. He tells us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, growth is not optional, it is essential because growth keeps you steady, growth keeps you grounded, growth keeps you effective, and growth positions you to help others grow too. If you take a step back and look at the full message of 2 Peter, it becomes clear. This book is about spiritual strength, clarity, and readiness. It's about knowing Christ deeply, living truthfully, discerning wisely, and anticipating eternity. And all of that connects directly to your ability to reach others for Christ. Because when your faith is strong, your life becomes a testimony. When your understanding is clear, your words carry weight. When your discernment is sharp, you can guide others safely. And when your hope is anchored in eternity, you live with purpose. If this episode stirred something in your heart and you are ready to go deeper, I want to personally invite you to continue this journey with me. I've created printable Bible study resources that walk you through the books of the Old and New Testaments. These are designed to help you not just read scripture, but truly understand it, apply it, and grow in your relationship with God. You can access these resources at paulabehrens.com/bible. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E-N-S .com/bible (no spaces). This is your next step if you're ready to strengthen your faith and become more confident in sharing God's truth with others. 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.