88 | Feeling Misunderstood? When Choosing Jesus Means Standing Alone

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

What happens when your deepest faith collides with the world's expectations? When choosing Jesus means standing alone? This raw, heartfelt exploration takes us beyond superficial spirituality into the sacred space where suffering becomes purpose.

We often misunderstand Christian suffering, assuming it's about illness or general hardship. But Scripture reveals something different—a unique kind of suffering that comes directly from our faithfulness to Christ. For many women, this looks like family relationships strained by different values, social exclusion for refusing to compromise convictions, or the quiet loneliness of standing firm when everyone else bends.

This suffering isn't random or meaningless. It often emerges from spiritual warfare when your growing faith threatens darkness. The enemy doesn't attack what poses no threat. Your deepening prayers, Scripture study, and faithful witness make you a target because they make a difference. Yet this resistance also serves as God's refining process—burning away pride and self-sufficiency while strengthening authentic faith. Most beautifully, your personal pain becomes the very vessel through which you can minister to others, offering comfort from the same well you've drawn from.

The most profound gift in suffering for Christ is the sacred intimacy it creates with Him. When you walk the path of rejection and misunderstanding for His sake, you experience His heart in ways comfort could never reveal. This suffering doesn't separate you from Jesus—it draws you closer to His side.

Ready to find purpose in your pain? Book an Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens.com/coaching where we'll create personalized spiritual rhythms that deepen your connection with God even through difficult seasons. Together, let's discover how standing firm today leads to glory tomorrow.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:01):
Are you prepared to stand firm in your faith when
the world turns away?
What if the trials you'reexperiencing are not punishment
but rather a path to yourgreater purpose?
This space is for the woman wholongs to walk closely with
Jesus, even when the road issteep.
It's a place where faith meetsreal life, where suffering isn't
something to hide from butsomething to grow through.

(00:23):
If you're feeling weary fromstanding firm, longing for a
deeper connection with God orsimply searching for hope in the
hard places, you're not alone.
Together, let's explore what itmeans to live anchored in God's
Truth, strengthened by HisGrace and committed to the Lord,
even when it costs us something.
But first funny story.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church

(00:47):
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
realized that even in my chaosthere was a lesson.

(01:08):
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.
I'm Paula and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.

(01:31):
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.
Are you curious about whatactually happens in the Aroma of
Christ Coaching Hour?
Let me walk you through it.
First, we'll talk about yourcurrent routine, what's working,

(01:54):
what's not, and where you feelstuck or dry.
Then we'll walk through yourspiritual goals, whether that's
deeper intimacy with God, morepeace or simply knowing how to
stay consistent.
Together, we'll build arealistic devotional routine
that works for your real life,and I'll introduce you to ways
essential oils can help you feelmore grounded and connected

(02:14):
during your time with the Lord.
You'll leave with a customdevotional plan, simple next
steps and a fresh wind in yourspirit.
Everything we do is led by theSpirit and grounded in grace,
not guilt.
So head on over now topaulabehrens.
com/ coaching and book yoursession.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .

(02:37):
com/ coaching (no spaces).
It's time to bring beauty andbalance back into your quiet
time.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
You're listening to Living onPurpose in Christ, the podcast

(02:58):
where faith meets real life andpurpose is rooted in the power
of God's promises.
Today's topic is all aboutcarrying your cross and
suffering for Jesus.
Suffering is something thattouches everyone and, as
Christians, we need tounderstand that we are not
exempt from it.
In fact, scripture reminds usthat, as followers of Jesus, we

(03:19):
will experience tribulation inthis life, not just as a result
of living in a broken world, butspecifically because of our
faithfulness to Christ.
This is especially importantfor women of faith who are
seeking to deepen their walkwith the Lord.
You may be walking through aseason where your faith in God

(03:39):
feels misunderstood or your deepdevotion to Christ has created
a feeling of separation betweenyou and your loved ones.
If that's you, I want toencourage you today.
God sees your faithfulness andhe is with you in the midst of
it all.
There is a unique kind ofsuffering that comes not from
general hardship, but fromstanding firm in your faith.

(04:01):
This type of suffering oftenbecomes evident when your
commitment to Jesus begins toclash with the world around you.
You may experience emotionalpain, relational loss or even
public rejection because of thevalues you hold and the way you
live your life in obedience toGod's Word.

(04:26):
This isn't random or withoutmeaning.
It is part of the journey Jesuswalked before you and it is
part of the journey he calls usto follow.
Jesus was very clear with hisfirst disciples about what to

expect, saying (04:35):
If those in the world persecuted me, they will
persecute you also.
Suffering for Jesus involvesfacing difficulties, rejection,
misunderstanding, trials andmaybe even persecution as a
direct result of yourrelationship with him.
This is different from generallife suffering, for example,

(04:57):
physical illness, is notcategorized as suffering for
Christ.
Nowhere in scripture do we seeJesus suffering from physical
illness due to his obedience.
What he did endure, however,was betrayal, hatred, injustice
and, ultimately, death, allbecause of his faithfulness to
the Father's will.

(05:18):
So what might suffering forJesus look like in our everyday
life?
For many Christian women, itmay look like being
misunderstood by family memberswho don't share your convictions
.
It might look like beingexcluded from certain social
circles because you refuse togossip, compromise your morals
or go along with things thatdishonor God.

(05:38):
It could be the pain ofstanding alone as you strive to
live a life that's fullysurrendered to Christ.
It might even includeexperiencing emotional distress
or the subtle loneliness thatcomes from choosing God over
acceptance by others.
But here's the hope we hold onto.
This suffering is not wasted.

(06:00):
It is not meaningless.
In fact, it carries incrediblepurpose and it draws us closer
to the heart of Jesus likenothing else can.
Let's take a closer look at whysuffering for Christ occurs and
how God uses it to shape andstrengthen us.
One of the most common reasonsfor this kind of suffering is

(06:21):
spiritual warfare.
As Christians, we are engagedin an ongoing battle between
good and evil, between the lightand the darkness.
When you're actively pursuing adeeper relationship with God,
when you're praying more,studying the word and sharing
your faith, you become a threatto the enemy's agenda.

(06:42):
This is especially true for theone who is taking spiritual
authority in their own home,raising children to know the
Lord, interceding for others orministering in their community.
When you draw closer to Jesus,you may notice an increase in
spiritual resistance.
It can feel like everything isfalling apart just when you
started moving forward.
I've seen it often.

(07:03):
That's not a coincidence.
It's spiritual warfare tryingto discourage you, distract you
or make you question yourcalling.
But we are not left defenseless.
God's presence and power areour covering.
Another reason God allows us tosuffer for Jesus is refinement.

(07:25):
As difficult as it may be,suffering has a way of refining
our hearts, like fire refinesgold.
It burns away the things wedon't need pride,
self-sufficiency and shallowfaith and it strengthens what
remains.
For many women, this refiningprocess might look like going

(07:45):
through a long season of waitingor facing hardship that strips
away distractions and pushes youto your knees in prayer, and
it's in that place, when we feelbroken and in need for his
presence, that we come to knowGod in a deeper, more personal
way.
Maybe you've had to walkthrough a painful divorce, a

(08:08):
broken friendship or a season ofrejection, and yet on the other
side of that suffering, youfound that your roots had grown
deeper in Christ.
You discovered a faith that wasno longer dependent on
circumstances but grounded inGod's unchanging character.
Even more beautifully, yoursuffering becomes a tool of
ministry.

(08:28):
2 Corinthians 1, verses 3-4,tells us that God comforts us in
all our troubles so that we cancomfort others with the same
comfort we ourselves havereceived.
Your experience, no matter howpainful can be the very thing
God uses to speak hope intosomeone else's life.
Suffering for Jesus also drawsus into deeper fellowship with

(08:52):
him.
There is a sacred nearness toChrist that comes through
suffering.
When you choose to remainfaithful to God in the face of
your pain, you are walking thesame road Jesus walked.
You are experiencing a piece ofhis heart that only those who
have carried a Cross can trulyunderstand.
If you're listening today andyour heart longs to know God

(09:15):
more deeply, don't discount thedifficult season you're in.
It may be the very place whereJesus is revealing himself to
you in new and intimate ways.
You are not forgotten.
You are being formed and youare not walking this road alone.
Let's now talk about how toendure suffering in a way that

(09:35):
will strengthen yourrelationship with Jesus and keep
your heart rooted in his Peace.
First, commit to prayer.
Philippians, chapter 4, verses6 through 7 encourages us, not
to be anxious about anything,but, in every situation, by
prayer and petition withthanksgiving, to present our
request to God and the promisehis Peace, which transcends all

(10:00):
understanding, will guard ourhearts and minds in Christ Jesus
.
When suffering becomesoverwhelming, prayer becomes
your anchor, and it doesn't haveto be long or eloquent.
Simply talk to God, be honestwith him, share your fears, your
doubts, your frustrations.
Tell him how you really feel.
Then thank him.

(10:20):
Thank him not for the pain, butfor his presence in it.
Thank him for being faithful.
Thank him for giving youstrength to endure.
Gratitude will shift your focusfrom your problems to God's
promises.
Second, choose to endure.
This kind of endurance is notabout gritting your teeth and

(10:40):
surviving.
It's about choosing to believethat God is good, sovereign, and
working behind the scenes evenwhen you can't see it.
Sometimes it's perseverancethat has you showing up for
church when your heart is heavy.
It means opening your Biblewhen the words feel dry.
It means continuing to pray foryour children, your spouse or

(11:02):
your future, even when nothingseems to be changing.
Faith is not just believing Godcan, it's trusting him even
when he hasn't yet.
Third, lean into community.
Scripture tells us to carry oneanother's burdens and in doing
so we fulfill the law of Christ.
You were never meant to carryyour cross alone.

(11:24):
God designed us for connection,support and encouragement.
Find a trusted friend, a smallgroup or a godly mentor who will
pray with you, listen withoutjudgment and speak truth into
your life.
Strength in the kingdom of Godlooks like humility.
Strength is reaching out whenyou're hurting and allowing
others to come along side you.

(11:46):
Before we close, I want toclarify something important.
Suffering for Jesus is not thesame as suffering from illness
or experiencing hardship due tosin.
While God can use all thingsfor his glory, not all suffering
is persecution.
Illness is a result of the fall.
There is no biblical record ofJesus ever suffering sickness as

(12:07):
part of his obedience.
Likewise, if you'reexperiencing consequences from
disobedience, that's a differentkind of suffering, but even
then, God's mercy is available.
He can redeem every broken areaof your life.
Finally, suffering for Christ isnot something we chase after.
We don't seek out pain to feelholy.

(12:29):
We simply choose dailyobedience, and when suffering
comes as a result, we bear itwith faith, hope and love.
Every day, we, as believers,are invited to choose Truth over
comfort, obedience overpopularity and Jesus over
everything.
If you find yourself in aseason of suffering for Christ

(12:51):
right now, I want to encourageyou to stand firm, keep your
eyes on Jesus, keep movingforward and know that God is not
punishing you.
He is purifying you, he ispreparing you and he is walking
beside you every step of the way, because bearing the cross
today leads to eternal glorytomorrow.

(13:14):
If today's message stirredsomething deep within you, a
longing to draw nearer to Jesusin the midst of your suffering,
I want to personally invite youto take the next step by booking
an Aroma of Christ coachinghour.
During this one-on-one session,we'll meet over Zoom for a
meaningful time of spiritualguidance tailored specifically
to your current season.

(13:34):
Together, we'll craft apersonalized devotional rhythm
that fits your lifestyle andnurtures your walk with God.
You'll also receivestep-by-step support in using
essential oils as sensoryanchors in your quiet time,
helping you reconnect with peaceand clarity in your spirit.
This coaching hour includesbiblical encouragement, focused

(13:55):
prayer, a bonus peace reset andpractical strategies to deepen
your relationship with Christ.
If your heart is longing formore and you're ready to move
forward with intention and grace, go right now to paulabehrens.
com/ coaching to reserve yourspot.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .

(14:18):
com/ coaching (no spaces).
Let's walk this sacred journeytogether, surrounded by truth,
purpose and the sweet aroma ofHis presence.
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

(14:39):
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.
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.

(15:00):
See you next time.