Find the full episode here >>> LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog
Ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” spiritual things yet your peace keeps slipping through your fingers? We take a fresh look at Colossians to find a center that holds, tracing Paul’s letter from a church pulled in many directions to a people grounded in the sufficiency of Christ. Along the way, we swap the self-improvement spiral for deep rootedness, and we explore how identity in Jesus changes emotional health from the inside out.
We start with the tension in Colossae: competing teachings, legalism, and trendy spirituality. Then we lift up Paul’s sweeping vision of Jesus as the image of the invisible God who holds all things together, including anxious hearts and messy days. From there, we get practical: how to “put off” corrosive reactions, “put on” compassion and patience, and let Christ’s peace act like an umpire when emotions flare. You’ll hear simple, doable rhythms that help you stay steady: letting Scripture dwell richly, practicing watchfulness and cultivating thankfulness that grounds your emotions.
If you’ve been searching for a calmer way to live your faith, this conversation offers gentle structure and strong theology. We talk about gracious speech that carries the flavor of Christ, purpose in everyday encounters, and why you don’t have to earn wholeness when you already have it in Him. Walk away with language for your next hard moment, a handful of practices to reset your day, and a renewed confidence that Jesus is enough for peace, growth, and joy.
Want guided help to build a rhythm that fits your life? Book the Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens.com/coaching and, if this resonated, follow, share, and leave a quick review so more friends can find their footing in Christ.
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Episode Transcript
Have you ever felt like you're doing all the
right things, reading yourBible, praying, showing up for
church, but still somethinginside feels a little off
balance?
Like your sense of peace isgradually slipping away.
You're not falling apart, butyou're not exactly thriving
either.
You know what?
The believers in Colossae werefeeling something similar.
They loved Jesus, but they weregetting pulled in a dozen
(00:22):
directions.
There were teachers comingaround saying, sure, Christ is
good, but don't forget thisspecial knowledge, or you'll
really be holy if you followthis rule or that ritual.
Paul's letter to the Colossiansis a beautiful, heartfelt
reminder.
Jesus is enough completely,perfectly, eternally.
Everything we need foremotional, spiritual, and even
(00:44):
mental wholeness is found inHim.
In just a few moments, we'lldive into a very interesting
message for today, not astheologians, but as friends who
want to live grounded, peaceful,emotionally healthy lives in
Christ.
But let me share a funny story.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
(01:06):
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
realized that even in my chaos,there was a lesson.
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
(01:27):
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?
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
(01:47):
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
share with your friends who needa little biblical encouragement
today.
(02:08):
Hey friend, I want to personallyinvite you to the Aroma of
Christ coaching hour.
If you've been feelingspiritually dry, this is your
opportunity to reignite yourlove for time with God.
It isn't just another Biblestudy or spiritual to-do list.
It's a deeply intentionalone-on-one session where you'll
experience a rhythm that trulyfits your life, all while using
(02:29):
your senses.
Before our coaching call,you'll receive an essential oil
sampler to use during our onlinesession to enhance this fun
spiritual journey.
We'll partner together todesign a peaceful,
Christ-centered rhythm thathelps you breathe again
spiritually and emotionally.
You'll walk away with clarity,focus, and a renewed connection
to the Holy Spirit.
Go right now toPaulaBehrens.com/coaching to
(02:52):
book your session.
That's Paula Behrens B E H R EN S .com/coaching (no spaces).
It's time to stop trying tofigure it out alone and start
connecting with God in a waythat finally feels like
refreshment for your soul.
Check the show notes to saveyour spot while the Peace RESET
(03:12):
is still on the table.
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal, and cozy up to your
favorite beverage, and let'sdive in.
Picture this (03:23):
Paul is in prison, he's writing to a church that
he didn't personally start.
A man named Epaphras, one ofPaul's co-workers, had gone to
Colossae and shared the gospelthere.
People came to Christ, thechurch was born, but not long
after, confusion crept in, a mixof Jewish legalism, Greek
(03:43):
philosophy, and something likeearly mysticism.
So from his prison cell, Paulwrites this letter.
And what he's really saying is,friends, you don't need to add
anything to Jesus.
He is everything you'll everneed for your salvation, for
your peace, and for your growth.
Doesn't that just make you takea deep breath of relief?
(04:07):
Then Paul thanks God for thebelievers' faith and love and
prays that they would be filledwith the knowledge of God's will
through all spiritual wisdomand understanding.
Now, when I read that, I alwayspause for a moment because
that's exactly what we cravewhen we're emotionally tired:
wisdom and understanding.
(04:28):
We want to know how to walkthrough the ups and downs of
life without falling apart.
And then Paul gives us thisbreathtaking description of
Jesus.
He writes, He is the image ofthe invisible God, the firstborn
over all creation.
For by him all things werecreated, and in him all things
(04:50):
hold together.
That last phrase always getsme.
In him all things holdtogether.
Even when your emotions feellike they're falling apart, even
when your home feels chaotic,even when your heart feels
fragile, Jesus is holding it alltogether.
That means your worth isn't inhow well you perform or how
(05:14):
emotionally together you feel.
Your worth is in Christ, whoalready holds you in perfect
love.
And Paul says Christ hasreconciled us, meaning he has
restored the relationshipbetween us and God.
You're not at war with himanymore.
You're his child, his beloved,fully accepted and fully loved.
(05:39):
Chapter 2 is where Paul startswarning the church about
spiritual counterfeits.
He says, Don't let anyone takeyou captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy.
In modern language, Paul mightsay, Don't let trendy
spirituality pull you away fromthe truth you already have in
Christ.
We see this all the time today,don't we?
(06:01):
Messages like, you just need tofind your higher self, or you
can manifest your own peace.
It sounds empowering, but it'sempty without Jesus.
Paul says instead, So then,just as you receive Christ Jesus
as Lord, continue to live yourlives in Him, rooted and built
(06:24):
up in Him, strengthened in thefaith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness.
There's that word again.
Rooted.
Emotional health for a believerdoesn't come from trying harder
or finding the perfectself-care formula, it comes from
being rooted in Christ.
You can picture it like this,your soul is a tree, the storms
(06:50):
of life will blow, sometimesfiercely.
But if your roots go deep intoJesus, his love, his truth, his
presence, you'll stay standing.
You might bend a little, butyou won't break.
And then Paul reminds us thatin Christ we are complete.
I don't know about you, but Ineed that reminder often because
(07:13):
it's so easy to think if Icould only fix this about
myself, then I'd feel whole.
But Paul says, No, in him, inChrist, you are already
complete.
You don't need to earn yourwholeness.
You already have it.
You are already made whole inChrist.
(07:34):
Now, chapter three is where itgets practical and personal.
Paul says, Since you havealready been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on thingsabove.
That's not just poeticlanguage, friend.
It's an invitation to refocusyour emotions.
It's as if Paul is saying, Liftyour eyes up, remember who you
(07:56):
belong to.
Because let's be honest, ouremotions can take us on quite a
ride.
Anger, frustration,disappointment, insecurity, they
all pop up from time to time.
But when we set our hearts onthings above, we remember that
those emotions don't have thefinal say.
Paul then lists things we'recalled to put off, like anger,
(08:20):
rage, malice, slander, filthylanguage, basically the
emotional junk that keeps usstuck.
And in its place, he says, puton compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, andpatience.
It's almost like gettingdressed in the morning.
When you lean into theindwelling Holy Spirit, you can
(08:40):
choose what emotional clothingyou will wear.
And here's the beautiful partPaul doesn't say, just try
harder to be nice.
He says, Because you are God'schosen people, holy and dearly
loved, clothe yourselves.
Did you catch that order?
He doesn't say, be good so Godwill love you.
(09:01):
He says, You are already loved.
So live like it.
Clothe yourself in the fruitthat comes through the Spirit.
That's the foundation ofemotional health for a believer.
We don't try to be peaceful,compassionate, kind, humble,
gentle, and patient to earnGod's love.
We rest in Him, and all thosethings will grow in our hearts
(09:28):
from there.
And right in the middle of thatchapter, Paul gives one of my
favorite verses for emotionalstability.
He says, Let the peace ofChrist rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body youwere called to peace and be
thankful.
Now that word "rule" means toact like an umpire.
(09:50):
Let peace call the shots.
When your emotions startflaring up, ask, Does this align
with Christ peace?
If not, maybe it's time topause and reset.
And then Paul reminds us thatthe word of Christ should dwell
richly among us.
That means you don't just readyour Bible, you soak in it.
(10:15):
Let it become the voice thatshapes your inner world.
The final chapter of Colossiansfeels like Paul's personal
goodbye, but it's also full oflittle gems for daily living.
He says, Devote yourselves toprayer, being watchful and
thankful.
That's such a steadying rhythm.
Prayerful, watchful, thankful.
(10:37):
Prayer keeps you connected.
Watchfulness keeps youdiscerning.
Thankfulness keeps yougrounded.
And then Paul says somethingthat touches the heart of every
believer who wants to live withpurpose.
He says, Be wise in the way youact toward outsiders.
Make the most of everyopportunity.
Let your conversation be alwaysfull of grace, seasoned with
(11:01):
salt.
In other words, let your wordscarry the flavor of Christ.
Whether you're talking to yourkids, your spouse, a co-worker,
or a stranger in line at thegrocery store, your tone and
your words can point someoneelse to Christ.
The letter to the Colossiansgives us a Christ-centered path
(11:21):
toward emotional wholeness.
It reminds us that wholenessdoesn't come from trying to fix
ourselves, it comes fromsurrendering ourselves.
It teaches us that spiritualgrowth isn't about adding more
"to-dos," it's about deepeningour "to-be." And it reminds us
that joy, peace, and securityflow naturally when our roots
(11:45):
are in Christ alone.
So when you feel insecure,remember you are complete in
him.
When you feel out of control,remember he holds all things
together.
When you feel unseen, rememberyou are chosen, holy, and dearly
loved.
Paul's message is not justtheology, it's therapy for the
(12:07):
soul.
So if you've been struggling tostay emotionally grounded, take
heart, friend, you don't haveto chase balance.
You just need to stay connectedto the one who holds balance
itself.
Before we close, let me ask you,what would it look like for you
to live this week rooted inChrist?
(12:27):
Maybe it's as simple asstarting your morning with one
verse from Colossians and a deepbreath, letting his peace rule
in your heart before the worldrushes in.
Maybe it's putting away oldhabits of negative self-talk and
instead reminding yourself, Iam chosen, holy and dearly
loved.
Or maybe it's letting gratitudeoverflow, even in the middle of
(12:49):
hard things, because you trustthat Christ is holding it all
together.
Whatever it looks like, myprayer is that you will feel
lighter, freer, and moreemotionally anchored in him.
Because when Christ is at thecenter, peace isn't far behind.
If this episode has stirredsomething in you, that longing
(13:09):
to live more peacefully, moredeeply connected to God, and
more emotionally anchored inChrist, I want to invite you to
take the next step.
Join me for a personal Aroma ofChrist coaching hour plus Peace
RESET.
This is a gentle, prayerful,and sensory experience designed
especially for Christians whowant to reconnect with God in
the quiet places of the heart.
(13:30):
Together we'll explore what'sbeen stealing your peace, and
we'll walk through a beautifulprocess of spiritual and
emotional renewal using biblicaltruth and the power of scent.
When you schedule your session,you'll also receive a free
essential oil sampler, a curatedblend we'll use together during
our session to help createcalm, focused, and
(13:52):
Christ-centered emotionalbalance.
It's my gift to you.
A little reminder that Goddesigned both your spirit and
your senses to experience hispresence in everyday life.
So when you're ready to takewhat we talked about today,
peace, wholeness, rootedness inChrist, and make it part of your
real daily rhythm, I'd love towalk with you through this
(14:13):
process.
You can book your Aroma ofChrist coaching hour plus Peace
RESET at paulabehrens.com/coaching.
That's Paula Behrens B-E-H RE-N-S .com/coaching (no spaces).
And remember, friend, whenChrist is at the center, peace
isn't far behind.
(14:36):
Thank you for tuning in today.
And remember, just like settingbiblical boundaries, it's okay
to say no to things that don'tserve you well, like that third
piece of cake at the churchpotluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
listeners like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
(14:56):
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intoHim and walking in His wisdom.
See you next time.
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