87 | Got Emotional Chaos? 5 Bible-Based Strategies for Restoring Balance

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

Ever feel like your emotions are running wild while your spiritual life suffers? You're not alone. That swirling internal chaos—when you can't focus during prayer, when you say things you regret, when past hurts and future fears collide—isn't a sign of spiritual failure. It's simply evidence that you're human.

The good news? Emotional chaos doesn't disqualify you from God's love or purpose. We can find lots of emotionally complex individuals in the Bible who walked closely with God: Elijah begging to die beneath a solitary tree, Hannah weeping bitterly in the temple, Peter overwhelmed by guilt after denying Jesus. Their stories remind us that emotions themselves aren't the problem—it's what we do with them that matters.

God designed your emotions as messengers, not masters. When overwhelm, anxiety, or anger arise, they're signaling something important about your needs, fears, beliefs, or boundaries. Learning to listen to these signals rather than being controlled by them is the heart of emotional balance. This podcast explores five powerful biblical strategies to restore this balance.

Additionally, whether you're struggling with establishing a meaningful devotional routine or battling the constant noise of negative thoughts, the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour offers personalized support to help you move from chaos to peace. Through scripture meditation, essential oil anointing, and practical spiritual rhythms tailored to your unique life, you'll discover how to bring your full emotional experience before God—just as Jesus did in Gethsemane—and find the peace that surpasses understanding. Ready to stop just surviving and start thriving in your faith? Visit paulabehrens.com/coaching and take the first step toward emotional balance and spiritual renewal today.

Send us a text

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

Christian Coaching > PaulaBehrens.com/coaching

🌹Become an Insider > bit.ly/insiderfamily

Join the Community >>> BiblicalBoundariesForWomen.com

Essential Oil Favorites > WhyEssentialOils.com

Get a copy > A New Heaven and New Earth: The Book of Revelation Revisited >>> https://amzn.to/3xRp0DI

Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:01):
Are your emotions running the show, seeking ways
to stay grounded when life feelschaotic?
You're in the right place,because this podcast is
specifically designed to be yourguiding light, helping you to
reconnect with God consistently,refocus on what truly matters,
get your emotions back in check,and walk confidently in step
with the Holy Spirit, not justtoday, but every day.

(00:23):
Hey sister, I see you, but mostimportantly, God sees you.
Funny story, when I first beganmy seminary work while serving
two church congregationsfull-time, everyone assumed I
had my daily devotional timeperfectly organized.
But, truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep

(00:44):
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I
realized that even in my chaosthere 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

(01:07):
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.
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.

(01:28):
I know you're tired.
Tired of trying to keep yourdevotional routine that doesn't
actually refresh your soul.
Tired of starting over everyMonday, telling yourself this
week will be different.
Tired of sitting with yourBible, distracted, wondering if
you're even doing this right.
Tired of feeling like yourspiritual life is just another

(01:50):
thing on your never ending to dolist.
Friend, I see you, I've beenthere too, and that's why I
created the Aroma of ChristCoaching Hour.
You don't need to keep spinningyour wheels.
You need a spirit led routinethat works with your life, not
against it.
Let's renew your quiet timewith God.
Book your personalized sessiontoday at paulabehrens.

(02:11):
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
It's time to stop justsurviving and to start thriving
in your faith.
All right, let's get started.

(02:31):
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal, cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
Let's be real about emotionalchaos.
What does it really feel likeand why does it happen?
Sometimes it's not trauma witha big T that knocks you down.
Most often, it's thousands oflittle stressors that creep in

(02:52):
and take over, like that momentwhen you sit down to read your
Bible and it's difficult tofocus.
You feel like you can't breathe.
You say things you wished youhadn't to someone you love.
You replay that comment fromyesterday.
You're juggling a to-do list,past regrets, tomorrow's fears
and the constant nagging feelingthat you're falling short.

(03:13):
That, dear friend, is emotionalchaos.
It's like a swirling whirlwindinside our hearts and minds that
makes us feel like we're justone unholy thought away from
falling apart.
But here's the truth, emotionalchaos doesn't make you a bad
Christian.
It simply makes you a human whoneeds Jesus.

(03:33):
The Bible is full of emotionallycomplex people: Elijah begging
God to let him die under a tree,Hannah weeping bitterly in the
temple, Peter overwhelmed byguilt as he claims that he
doesn't know Jesus, not justonce, but three times.
You're not alone and you're notwithout help.
Let's lay this foundation.
Emotions are not the enemy.

(03:56):
They are not masters, but theyare messengers.
God created you and me withemotions.
Jesus himself experienced thefull range: Joy, sorrow, anger,
compassion, even anguish.
The problem is when theycontrol us, when they take the
driver's seat.
Proverbs, chapter 25, verse 28says: Like a city whose walls

(04:19):
are broken through is a personwho lacks self-control.
When we allow uncheckedemotions to lead, we become
defenseless and vulnerable, likea city without walls.
But here's the good news.
Self-control isn't solelyreliant on you or your willpower
.
It's a fruit that comes throughthe indwelling Holy Spirit.

(04:39):
That means balance is not aboutbeing super disciplined or
emotionally numb.
It's about being Spirit led.
Your emotions are like littlemessengers alerting you that
something deeper is going on.
Emotions and feelings revealyour needs, your fears, your
desires and your beliefs.
They are simply signals.

(05:00):
They are not commands, truthsand certainly not identities.
Let's say you're feelingoverwhelmed.
That emotion is telling yousomething.
Maybe you've taken on more thanyou were meant to carry.
Perhaps something has triggereda memory with a negative charge
that no longer serves you well.
Maybe you're trying to fix whatonly God can heal.

(05:21):
When you begin to listen toyour emotions and what they are
saying, rather than being ruledby them, you step into the
wisdom and balance God designedfor you.
So what does scripture say aboutemotional stability?

Well, Isaiah 26 (05:35):
3 says
those whose minds are steadfastbecause they trust in you.
Peace doesn't simply show up ina calm life.
It is a gift from God when youfocus on His word and trust in
His promises.
Another powerful scripture isfound in Philippians 4, verses 6

and 7, which says (05:51):
Do not be anxious about anything but in

(06:11):
every situation by prayer andsupplication, with thanksgiving,
present your request to God andthe Peace of God will guard
your hearts and your minds inChrist Jesus.
When we surrender out anxietyto God through honest prayer and
gratitude, he literally standsguard over our emotions and
thoughts.
And don't miss what comes next.

Philippians 4 (06:22):
8 instructs us to
, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
This is not simply positivethinking.
This is a deliberate focus onGod as we turn every situation
over to him, so that he canreplace the noise of emotional

(06:43):
chaos with a Peace thatsurpasses all human
understanding.
In Matthew, chapter 26, we seeJesus in the Garden of
Gethsemane as he tells hisdisciples: My soul is
overwhelmed with sorrow to thepoint of death.
That's verse 38.
So even Jesus, the Prince ofPeace, felt crushed.

(07:03):
He didn't pretend, though.
He didn't suppress what he wasfeeling.
He brought it fully into thepresence of the Father.
He wept, he prayed, he askedfor a way out and then, and this
is the key, he yielded.
He said, Yet not as I will, butas you will.

(07:25):
Balance doesn't mean you don'tfeel your emotions.
It means you surrender them tothe authority of God's will.
Chaos around us does not haveto become emotional chaos within
us.
So let's get practical.
Here are five biblicalstrategies to calm the chaos and
restore emotional balance.
First, pause before you react.

(07:47):
When emotions rise, we need tostep outside the swirl and ask
the Spirit to guide our response.
Then we need to name what we'rereally feeling.
So, instead of saying, I'm juststressed, go deeper and ask
yourself, am I grieving, am Iafraid of being rejected, am I

(08:08):
resentful about something?
Naming it allows you to inviteGod into it and be healed.
The third point is to saturateyour mind with scripture.
When emotions lie and they do,the Word tells the truth.
So create a list of scripturesto speak over your mind during

(08:28):
chaotic periods.
Fourth, invite the Holy Spiritto lead you.
You don't have to manageemotional chaos alone.
The Holy Spirit isn't just yourcomforter, he's also your
internal counselor and he's yourpeace giver.
So ask him daily to lead youremotional life, not just your
behavior.
And finally, rest intentionally.

(08:49):
Busyness can fuel emotionalchaos, so make rest a sacred
rhythm, not laziness, soulrest-- rest in His word, rest in
His good creation, rest withworship, rest with stillness.
Here's the pattern I often seein women walking through
emotional chaos.

(09:10):
They say or maybe they're justthinking to themselves, I can't
handle this, it's too much.
No one understands.
God must be disappointed in me.
These thoughts becomestrongholds, fortified lies that
bind us.
And often there is a pastmemory that's triggering these
negative thoughts.

(09:30):
But scripture teaches us totake every thought captive and
make it obedient to Christ.
That means we don't just listento thoughts, we confront them,
we interrogate them, we holdthem up against the light of
Truth and refuse to let liesdefine us.
Replacing lies with God's Truthis not a one-time fix, though.

(09:54):
It's a daily declaration offaith.
But what about those days whenit feels like no amount of
scripture, prayer or deepbreathing helps, when balance
feels impossible.
Let's be honest emotional chaosis sometimes linked to deep
wounds, trauma, life transitionsor even physical exhaustion.

(10:14):
This is where community andcounsel comes in.
God may use a Christiancounselor, a pastor or even a
spirit-filled friend to help youuntangle the knots inside.
That's not weakness, it'swisdom.
In the Aroma of Christ CoachingHour, we address emotional
chaos with intention and grace.
Through the gentle power ofYoung Living Essential Oils, a

(10:36):
guided technique and the healingpresence of God, we tackle
these strongholds together.
From this transformativeexperience, a unique, positive
affirmation is born, tailored toyour journey.
Then, with this newfoundclarity, we craft a daily rhythm
to keep you anchored in faithand aligned with your God-given
purpose.
Don't underestimate the powerof anointing with oil and prayer

(10:59):
.
We see that in James, chapter 5, verse 14, which reminds us
that both spiritual and physicalhealing are part of our
inheritance in Christ.
This approach empowers you tobreak free from the cycle of
negative thinking, helping youto align your mind with the
truth of who you are in ChristJesus.

(11:20):
Let's end with a time of guidedscripture meditation.
If you're in a safe place to doso, I invite you to close your
eyes and breathe slowly as Iread these verses over you.

Psalm 46 (11:32):
10 says

First Peter 5:7 says (11:48):
Cast all your anxiety on Him because he
cares for you.

Exodus 14:14 says (11:59):
The Lord will fight for you.
You need only to be still.

Psalm 23 (12:11):
3 promises

And Psalm 27:1 proclaims (12:23):
The Lord is my light and my
salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
Let each verse sink in.
Speak them aloud if you can.
Let the word of God cut throughthe noise.

(12:44):
Here they are again.
Be still and know that I am God.
Cast all your anxiety on himbecause he cares for you.
The Lord will fight for you.

(13:07):
You need only to be still.
He restores my soul.
The Lord is my light and mysalvation.

(13:27):
Whom shall I fear?
If emotional chaos has been yourdaily norm and you're longing
for a rhythm of peace, not justfor today, but for every day,
then I invite you to take ameaningful next step.

(13:47):
The Aroma of Christ CoachingHour is a 60-minute one-on-one
session held over Zoom, designedto help you move from overwhelm
to an anchored peace in Christ.
For just $47, here's what youwill receive -- A Peace RESET
Bonus session using the AromaFreedom Technique to gently

(14:08):
break through the emotionalclutter and help you realign
with God's Truth.
A personalized devotionalrhythm crafted just for you, one
that fits your lifestyle anddaily routine.
Step-by-step guidance on how toestablish your quiet time, one
that you will look forward to,not out of guilt, but from a
place of grace and desire.

(14:29):
Practical, Spirit-led tips onhow to make your time with God
more calming, focused andsoul-nourishing.
A beautiful printable prayerjournal filled with scripture,
essential oil routines,journaling prompts and sensory
cues to keep your heart groundedin God's peace throughout the
week.
This session is so much morethan just coaching.

(14:49):
It's a sacred space.
It's a place where you arefully seen, heard and supported,
not just emotionally butspiritually.
Reserve your spot today atpaulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
You were never meant to carryall of this alone.

(15:11):
Let's partner together with theHoly Spirit to create a
peaceful, purpose-filled rhythmthat brings the joy of the Lord
back into your soul.
Remember, you're not alone.
You are deeply loved and yourfaith journey matters.
So keep breathing, keepbelieving and keep becoming who
God created you to be.

(15:32):
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
women like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.

(15:55):
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.