109 | Holy Oils and Holy Faith: Finding Peace Amid Life Changes

Find the full episode here >>> LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Change can feel like standing on moving ground, but we don’t have to face it untethered. We share a simple, embodied way to stay anchored in Christ through Scripture, prayer, and the biblical practice of sacred oils—tools designed for wholeness that engage your senses, settle your mind, and open your heart to God’s steady presence. From the seminary mornings that ran on grace instead of perfection to the small practices that transform a rushed day into a sacred rhythm, this conversation offers a path from anxiety to alignment.

We walk through the rich history and meaning behind myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil, and we unpack the holy incense—onycha, galbanum, and frankincense—as a sensory liturgy that invites focus and calm. Along the way, we address the skepticism around essential oils and re-center them as humble aids, not replacements for faith. Paired with worship and the Word, these gifts become anchors: a cue to breathe, to be still, and to remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Grounded in Hebrews 13:8, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 34:18, and stories of Abraham, Esther, Israel, and Peter, we explore how trust grows when we release control and keep our eyes on Christ through every season. You’ll leave with practical steps—short prayers, breath-and-verse pauses, journaling prompts, and aroma cues—to cultivate stillness, build resilience, and find clarity when life shifts. If you’re craving a slower, Spirit-led rhythm that holds you steady, this one’s for you.

If this helped you breathe easier, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so others can find it. Ready for more support? Book an Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching and start your Peace Reset today.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:00):
I know, friend.
Life moves quickly, andsometimes it feels like the
ground beneath our feet isshifting faster than we can keep
up.
One moment everything feelsfamiliar and steady, and the
next it's completelyunrecognizable.
A job change, a move, a healthchallenge, or even a shift in
your spiritual walk can leaveyou feeling unstable and unsure

(00:21):
of the next step.
Change is inevitable, yet howwe respond to it can either draw
us closer to God or leave usfeeling overwhelmed and anxious.
In today's episode, we'll delveinto the practical tools that
God provides to keep usgrounded, tools he crafted for
our well-being from the start.
But before we dive in, let meshare a bit about my early

(00:42):
seminary days.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I

(01:04):
realized that even in my chaos,there was a lesson.
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?

(01:26):
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
Please take a moment to followthe show, leave a review, and

(01:47):
share with your friends who needa little biblical encouragement
today.
Hey friend, I know what it'slike to feel far from God even
when you're doing all the rightthings.
You're showing up, you'repraying, you're reading your
Bible, but inside somethingfeels disconnected.
You wonder if you're doingenough, if God is even
listening.
You feel a little ashamed thatyour quiet time isn't what it

(02:08):
used to be or what you hoped itwould be.
I want you to know you're notalone and you're not failing.
God isn't asking for yourperfection.
He's just asking for yourpresence.
That's what the aroma ofChrist's coaching hour is all
about.
No pressure, no performance,just God's presence.
And as a special touch, you'llreceive a free essential oil

(02:29):
sampler ahead of time so you canexperience how these simple
tools can enhance our timetogether, creating an
environment where peace andclarity can flourish.
Let me walk with you into aslower Spirit-led rhythm that
will help you reconnect with theOne who's been waiting to
refresh your soul all along.
Say yes to peace, say yes topresence.
Book your Aroma of Christcoaching hour now at

(02:52):
PaulaBehrens.com /coaching.
That's Paula Behrens, B E H R EN S .com /coaching (no spaces).
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal, and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
For many of us, change stirsboth excitement and fear.

(03:14):
It can be a blank canvas, achance to grow and explore, or
it can spark worry anduncertainty.
The good news is that no matterhow unpredictable life gets, we
have a constant we can clingto, Jesus Christ, who never
changes.
Hebrews 13.8 reminds us, JesusChrist is the same yesterday and

(03:35):
today and forever.
While the world shifts, hislove, guidance, and promises
remain steadfast.
Seeing change through God'sperspective transforms it from a
threat into an opportunity, anopportunity to rely on his
strength, trusting his timing,and grow in ways we never
imagined.

(03:56):
And sometimes God gives ustangible tools to help us stay
anchored, tools he designed forour wholeness from the very
beginning, like the sacred oilsmentioned throughout Scripture.
Have you ever wondered whyessential oils are mentioned
over 600 times in the Bible, orwhy the wise men brought gifts
of frankincense and myrrh toJesus?

(04:16):
Oils weren't trends, they weresacred tools for healing,
worship, and protection.
The Creator himself gave Mosesthe exact recipe for the holy
anointing oil in Exodus 30.
Each ingredient carried aspecific purpose, both physical
and spiritual.
Let me walk you through a fewof them.

(04:37):
Myrrh was known for its abilityto fight infection, soothe
skin, and calm inflammation.
Spiritually, it symbolizessurrender, purification, and
deep inner healing.
Cinnamon was one of thestrongest antibacterial and
circulatory oils.
It brought warmth to the bodyand zeal to the soul, a symbol

(04:58):
of holy passion and the fire ofthe Spirit.
Calamus supported the nervoussystem and digestion.
Its upright stalk representedintegrity, humility, and
balance, aligning body andspirit.
Cassia was a powerful purifierused to drive out diseases,
strengthen immunity, and cleansesacred spaces.

(05:21):
It symbolizes authority andsanctification.
Olive oil, the carrier of theanointing, was rich in nutrients
and symbolic of the HolySpirit, the One who empowers,
heals, and sets apart.
And then there is the sacredtradition of the Holy Incense.
Three powerful ingredients cometogether onycha, galbanum, and

(05:45):
pure frankincense.
Onycha is known for its rich,sweet aroma.
Spiritually, it symbolizes thedeep cleansing and preparation
required to approach the divine.
This element of the incenseserves as a reminder of our
journey toward purification andtransformation in God's
presence.

(06:05):
Galbanum, a resin with a strongearthy scent, is often
associated with grounding andcentering.
Within spiritual ceremonies, itrepresents stability and
steadfastness, reminding us toremain firm in our faith yet
open to God's guidance.
Its inclusion in the HolyIncense calls us to stand

(06:26):
resolute and anchored in ourspiritual journey.
And finally, pure frankincense,an integral part of sacred
rituals, signifies our intimateconnection to God.
Beyond its spiritual symbolism,frankincense offers medicinal
benefits, including immunesupport, calming of the mind,
and promotion of cellularhealing.

(06:48):
It was also used by Aaron inthe stopping of a plague.
Inhaling its fragrance draws usinto a deeper encounter with
the sacred, enriching both bodyand spirit.
Together, these threeingredients create a profound
experience, drawing us closer toGod through their combined
symbolism and healingproperties.

(07:10):
This wasn't random, it wasdivine chemistry.
God designed each oil and resinwith exacting wisdom to protect
His people.
Body, that's the physical,mind, the emotions, and spirit,
our connection with God.
And yet today, many mockessential oils as snake oil.
Why?

(07:31):
Because God's natural medicinehas often been buried beneath
systems that profit by keepingus dependent rather than
empowered.
But God's design hasn'tchanged.
The same oils that healedwounds, purified temples, and
calmed anxious hearts still holdthat power today.
I've personally used essentialoils for almost nine years now,

(07:54):
and I've seen how combining themwith prayer, scripture, and
worship creates a sacred rhythmthat strengthens the soul, calms
the mind, and nurturesemotional and spiritual
wholeness.
They're not a replacement forfaith, of course.
They're a tool, though, a toolto help you engage your body,
mind, and spirit in harmony withGod's design.

(08:15):
When we embrace change, Godoften invites us to new levels
of dependence on Him.
Life may challenge us in wayswe didn't anticipate, but each
season carries a divine purpose.
Remember Abraham?
He left everything familiar tofollow God's call.
Esther stepped into a role shenever sought, and the Israelites

(08:38):
learned daily dependence duringtheir wilderness wanderings.
Their stories remind us thatGod's plan often unfolds in ways
we cannot predict, but that hispresence is constant.
The key to thriving in changeis trust.
It means releasing control,surrendering outcomes, and

(09:00):
leaning into the One who neverwavers.
Matthew 14 tells us that Peterwalked on water toward Jesus,
but began to sink when hefocused on the storm.
That's a vivid picture of whathappens when we focus on
circumstances rather than onChrist.
The waves may be real, but whenwe keep our eyes on Him, we can

(09:23):
walk through storms with faith,not fear.
Psalm 46.10 says, Be still andknow that I am God.
Stillness doesn't always meaninactivity.
It's resting in the assurancethat God is already at work,
even when we can't see it.
In the same way, integratingessential oils as a sensory

(09:46):
anchor can help us cultivatethat stillness.
The aroma of frankincenseduring prayer or the soothing
scent of cedar wood whilereflecting on scripture reminds
us that God is present and incontrol.
Change can also bringdiscomfort.
Loss, heartbreak, oruncertainty can shake our faith.

(10:07):
Psalm 34.18 offers comfort,saying, The Lord is close to the
brokenhearted and saves thosewho are crushed in spirit.
God doesn't stand at adistance, he draws near, he
carries our pain and turns oursuffering into growth.
Even when life feels chaotic,he is shaping us into vessels of

(10:30):
purpose and faith.
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us thatthere is a time for everything
and a season for every activityunder the heavens.
Even when we don't understandwhy a door closes or a plan
shifts, God is orchestrating ourstory with intention.
Seasons of waiting aren'twasted.

(10:50):
They're sacred space where ourfaith can deepen and our
character can be strengthened.
Ultimately, change can either bea barrier or a bridge.
Think about that.
Change can distance us from Godor it can draw us closer than
ever.
The difference lies in ourresponse.

(11:11):
Choosing faith over feartransforms every detour into
divine direction.
The anxiety of the unknowngives way to the peace of God,
and confusion becomes clarity.
As Christians, we have theopportunity to model a different
way of being in a world thatchanges rapidly, don't we?

(11:35):
By grounding ourselves inprayer, scripture, worship, and
yes, even God-designed sensorytools like essential oils, we
become beacons of faith andhope.
We live on purpose, not inreaction to life's chaos, but on
purpose in Christ.
We anchor our hearts in whatnever changes, Jesus Christ.

(11:56):
And we navigate every seasonwith resilience, peace, and
purpose.
So if you're walking through aseason of change, I encourage
you to create a rhythm thatnurtures your body, mind, and
spirit.
Lean into God's word, invitehim into every shift and
transition, breathe in hispresence, use the tools he

(12:19):
designed to support you, andabove all, trust that he is
faithful.
His timing is perfect, and hisplans for you are good, my
friend.
Yes, life will evolve, seasonswill turn, but the God who holds
your heart remains the same,yesterday, today, and forever.

(12:42):
And when you anchor yourself inhim, you can step forward into
every change, not with fear, butwith faith, peace, and purpose.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thankyou that you never change, even
when everything else around usdoes.

(13:02):
Thank you for your love, foryour guidance, and for your
faithfulness.
Help us to trust you in everyseason of change.
Teach us to lean into yourword, rest in your presence, and
find peace in your unshakablelove.

(13:22):
Use the tools and gifts you'vedesigned for us, for our bodies
and our minds, and our senses,to draw us closer to you.
May we live each day withhearts anchored in Christ,
confident that you are workingall things together for our
good.
It is in Jesus' precious andHoly name that we ask these

(13:45):
things.
Amen.
Take a deep breath, and if you'dlike, whisper a simple
affirmation.
Say, God is my anchor, his loveis my peace.
I trust him in every season.
Allow that truth to sink in asyou step forward into whatever

(14:11):
this new season holds.
Change may come, but yourpurpose in Christ is unshakable.
If you'd like personal guidancefor navigating life's changes
with faith and peace, I inviteyou to book an Aroma of Christ
coaching hour plus Peace RESETwith me.
In this one-hour session, we'llpray together, explore

(14:34):
spiritual rhythms, and uncoverpractical ways to anchor your
heart in God's presence.
You'll also receive a freeessential oil sampler to use
during our coaching hour, givingyou a tangible way to connect
with God through his creation.
And by the end of our timetogether, you'll walk away with
renewed confidence, clarity, anda deeper sense of peace, ready

(14:56):
to navigate every season withpurpose and trust in God.
Save your seat now atPaulaBehrens.com/coaching.
That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R EN S .com/coaching (no spaces).
You'll be glad you did.
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.