92 | Longing for Deeper Faith? How the Gospel of Mark Leads You Closer to Jesus

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

Struggling to maintain consistency in your faith walk? Feeling spiritually stagnant amid life's demands? The Gospel of Mark offers exactly what your soul craves—an action-packed, urgent invitation back to authentic discipleship.

Mark's gospel cuts through religious noise with refreshing directness. Written by John Mark, who likely traveled with Peter, this shortest gospel wastes no time with lengthy introductions. It plunges immediately into Jesus' ministry with a pace that perfectly matches our hurried lives. When Jesus calls his first disciples by the Galilean shore, they drop their nets "immediately"—a word appearing repeatedly throughout Mark, emphasizing that following Jesus demands urgency, not someday intentions.

What "nets" are you clinging to? Perhaps it's the net of control—wanting to manage every detail rather than surrendering to God's direction. Maybe it's comfort—hesitating to step into the unknown despite Christ's call. Or approval—fearing others' opinions more than embracing your true identity in Christ. The disciples' immediate response challenges us to examine what prevents our wholehearted commitment.

Mark's gospel speaks powerfully to those feeling spiritually isolated. When Jesus' own family thinks he's "out of his mind," he redefines family as "whoever does God's will." This offers profound comfort if you're navigating faith alone—perhaps with an unbelieving spouse or resistant children. You're never truly spiritually isolated; in Christ, you belong to a family transcending biological connections. Even in your spiritual journey's most challenging moments, remember the father who honestly cried, "I believe; help my unbelief!" This prayer perfectly captures the tension many experience—faith mixed with doubt, certainty with questions.

Ready to rekindle your spiritual walk with fresh urgency? Join me for a personalized Aroma of Christ coaching hour at paulabehrens.com/coaching. Together, we'll develop practical strategies to make your devotional life consistent, meaningful, and transformative again.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:01):
Feeling like your faith has gotten too
comfortable, wondering how tobring consistency back into your
walk with God.
The Gospel of Mark shows us howto follow Jesus with urgency,
starting today, not someday.
Mark's fast-paced Gospel cutsthrough the noise and calls us
back to what matters mostwalking daily with Jesus.
But first funny story.

(00:22):
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

(00:44):
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
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day.

(01:05):
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.
You want to grow closer to God.

(01:26):
But let's be honest your daysare full, your mind is busy and
your devotional routine feelsmore like a struggle than a
sanctuary.
That's exactly why I createdthe Aroma of Christ Coaching
Hour.
This one-on-one session isdesigned to make deepening your
relationship with God simple,peaceful and personal.
No pressure, no overwhelm, justa guided, spirit-led approach

(01:47):
to help you reset and reconnectwith Jesus in a way that truly
fits your life.
You won't leave empty-handedeither.
You'll walk away witheverything you need to continue
your journey, including aprintable Devotional Planning
and Tracking Guide to help youstay consistent, a beautiful
Gospel Reading Plan that walksyou through the life of Jesus, a
downloadable Prayer Journal toreflect, process and pray

(02:09):
intentionally, and practicalguidance on how to use essential
oils to quiet your mind andinvite peace into your spiritual
practices.
You don't need fancy tools orhours of free time.
You just need a doable plan andsomeone to help you make it
real.
So let's make your devotionallife easy, meaningful and
refreshingly Christ-centered.
It's time to simplify yourspiritual life so you can savor

(02:32):
it again.
Book your Aroma of Christcoaching hour today at
paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
Look for a link in the shownotes.
All right, it's time to getstarted.

(02:52):
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
Are you struggling to fit Godinto your busy days, wishing
your spiritual routine feltsteady instead of scattered?
In God's Word, we find simple,powerful lessons to build a
faith that holds strong in reallife.
I'm so glad you're here with usas we journey through the Bible

(03:15):
, book by book.
Today, we're going to spendsome time together in the Gospel
of Mark, a book that moves fast, hits hard and calls us to
follow Jesus with urgency andfaith.
Before we get into the text,let's pray.
Lord as we open your word today.
Open our hearts, speak to usthrough the pages of Mark's
Gospel.
Help us to hear your call withfresh ears and to respond with

(03:39):
urgency and obedience.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
The Gospel of Mark isn't just acollection of stories about
Jesus.
It's a vibrant, action-packedinvitation to step into a life
of faith that feels alive andreal, especially when life feels
anything but.
As a pastor walking alongsidebusy families, I know how hard

(04:01):
it can be to carve out space forGod in the middle of endless
to-do lists, emotional ups anddowns and the quiet ache of
feeling spiritually alone.
Maybe you're, like so many I'vetalked to, new to this faith
journey, trying to figure outhow to make Bible reading a
habit when kids are pulling atyour sleeves or your spouse
isn't on board with church.

(04:21):
Through the book of Mark, we'lluncover practical ways to make
your faith a guiding force, onesmall, doable step at a time.
So let's breathe deep, open ourhearts and let these timeless
truths speak to us right wherewe are.
Mark's Gospel is like a briskwalk through the countryside.
It's the shortest of the fourGospels, but it packs a punch

(04:43):
with its urgency and immediacy.
Written by John Mark, a youngman who likely traveled with
Peter, this book zooms in onJesus' ministry with a sense of
right now that can reallyresonate if you're a busy parent
trying to juggle everything.
It starts with a bang, thebeginning of the good news about
Jesus, the Messiah, the Son ofGod, Mark 1:1.

(05:07):
No slow build-up here, it'sstraight to the point, just like
how we need our spiritualroutines to be, simple,
straightforward and full ofpurpose.
Early in Mark, John the Baptistcalls people to repentance,
preparing the way for Jesus.
His message is clear, God wantstransformation, not just

(05:27):
activity.
As a pastor who's guidedparishioners through seasons of
doubt and disconnection, I seeMark as a perfect blueprint for
those early morning moments whenyou're sipping coffee,
wondering how to fit God intoyour day without it feeling like
another chore.
I mean who needs that?
Jesus comes to be baptized andas he emerges from the water,

(05:48):
the Spirit descends and a voicefrom Heaven declares: You are my
beloved, with you I am wellpleased, Mark, Chapter 1, verse
11.
That affirmation reminds usthat our identity is secure in
him, even when life feels hectic, and that we can approach God
confidently knowing he delightsin us.

(06:10):
But here's the thing Mark isn'tmeant to be conquered in one
sitting.
It's meant to be savored onestep at a time, helping you
build that consistent routineyou've been searching for.
If that sounds good to you, Isuggest that you treat Mark's
Gospel like it's a conversationwith a friend.
Read a short section, maybejust a few verses about Jesus

(06:30):
healing someone or calling hisdisciples, and then pause and
ask yourself, what does this sayabout God's heart for me today?
Small steps add up and beforeyou know it, that routine could
very well become your anchor.
One of the first things thatjumps out in Mark is Jesus' call
to his first disciples.
Jesus walks by the Sea ofGalilee and says to Simon and

Andrew (06:53):
Come, follow me and I will send you out to fish for
people, Mark 1, 17.
They leave their netsimmediately.
The word immediately appearsover and over in Mark,
emphasizing the urgency ofresponding to Jesus.
Even in the middle of a busyday, demanding life, God calls
us right where we are.

(07:15):
If you're balancing work, familyand that inner tug towards
spiritual growth, start small.
Perhaps read Mark, chapter 1,verses 14 through 20, during
your quiet morning time and thenask yourself, What nets am I
holding on to that I need todrop?
What fears, doubts ordistractions could I lay aside
to follow him more closely?

(07:36):
Let's make this more practical.
Imagine you're folding laundryand the phone rings.
It's your child or your spouseor a dear friend in crisis.
You wouldn't say, I'll get backto you in an hour when I finish
folding.
You'd drop everything andrespond.
That's how the disciplesresponded to Jesus' call,
immediately, without hesitation.
So let me ask you what nets areyou holding on to?

(07:59):
Maybe it's the net of control.
You want to plan everything,manage every detail and you're
afraid to let God redirect yourpath.
Or maybe it's the net ofcomfort.
Life feels stable right now andyou're hesitant to step into
something unknown.
Or maybe it's the net ofapproval.
You're afraid of what otherswill think if you fully commit

(08:21):
to following Jesus.
But when Jesus calls, hedoesn't just call us to leave
something behind, he calls usinto something much, much
greater.
He says, I will make you becomefishers of men.
That means your life will haveeternal impact.
As we move deeper into Mark, wesee Jesus performing miracles

(08:42):
and teaching with authority.
One powerful story is thehealing of a paralyzed man
lowered through the roof by hisfriends.
The crowd is so thick that hisfriends have to get creative,
tearing through the roof tobring him to Jesus.
Jesus looks at him and says Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark

2 (09:02):
5).
The man is healed.
But the story goes beyond thephysical.
Jesus meets the deeperspiritual need.
If you are feeling like yourlife is stretched thin,
scripture reminds us that Godsees every struggle, emotional
burden and longing.
Engaging in daily reflection orjournaling prompts or even just

(09:22):
asking, How does this miraclespeak to my own needs for
healing today, can make thegospel come alive in practical,
transformative ways.
In Mark, Jesus also addressesthe tension of family and faith.
When his own family thinks he'sout of his mind, he reminds

everyone (09:41):
Whoever does God's will is my brother, sister and

mother (Mark 3 (09:44):
35).
This teaches us that ourultimate identity is in Christ,
not in the approval of others.
Mark 3 tells us that evenJesus' family thought he was out
of his mind.
Isn't that comforting in astrange and unusual way?
If Jesus himself facedmisunderstanding from those
closest to him, it makes sensethat we might too.

(10:07):
Some of you listening havehusbands who don't share your
faith.
Others are raising children whoroll their eyes at church and
that can feel lonely.
But listen to Jesus' words.
He says, Whoever does God'swill is my brother and sister
and mother.
Friend, you are neverspiritually alone.
In Christ, you are surroundedby a family of faith.

(10:29):
For me, that family sometimeslooked like friends in a
Wednesday night Bible study.
They were my sisters andbrothers when I felt spiritually
isolated at home.
So when you feel like yourfaith walk is misunderstood,
remember you belong, you arepart of God's family.
Even when relationships arecomplicated or when those

(10:50):
closest to us don't share ourfaith, Jesus is our anchor and
our brothers and sisters inChrist are there to support us.
Mark also teaches throughparables like the sower, showing
that seeds, the word of God,grow in different ways depending
on the soil of our hearts.
Life's busyness can feel likethe thorns that choke spiritual

(11:11):
growth.
Yet intentional time in prayer,reflection or reading scripture
cultivates good soil for faithto thrive.
Jesus is the ultimate model forrest in prayer.
After feeding thousands, hegoes off alone to pray.
Even the one who constantlygives of himself, prioritizes
solitude and connection with theFather.

(11:32):
Busy parents can take note.
Intentional pauses, even brief,for prayer or reflection are
vital.
Perhaps a quiet walk,journaling, or five minutes of
scripture before the day'sdemands begin can anchor peace
and strength within youThroughout, Mark, the themes of

(11:52):
faith, healing andtransformation guide us.
When a father cries out, I dobelieve.
Help me overcome my unbelief(Mark 9, 24), it mirrors the
journey of new believersstriving to cultivate a
consistent spiritual practice.
The encouragement here is to aimfor progress, not perfection.
Ten minutes a day in scripture,a short reflection or prayer

(12:16):
can steadily build a life offaith that endures.
Mark's Gospel also carries usto the intensity of Jesus' final
hours.

On the cross, he cries (12:23):
My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?
That's Mark 15, 34.
This moment reflects the weightof human struggle and the
feelings of abandonment, yet itis followed by Resurrection and
Victory.
Mark 16 reminds us that triumphcomes even after the darkest

(12:44):
hours, offering hope andperspective for every day, no
matter how challenging.
Sharing these stories withfamily, even briefly, can plant
seeds of faith and hope thatechoes across generations.
And, wrapping up, remember thatthe book of Mark is not just a
historical account.
It's a living guide for today.

(13:05):
By integrating Mark into yourroutine, you're not just
checking a box.
You're building a foundationfor a consistent connection with
God, strengthening your faithand shining his light in your
home and family.
If you've been feeling alone inyour journey to create a
consistent spiritual routine,know that God delights in the

(13:25):
smallest gestures to draw nearto him, and you don't have to
walk this path by yourself.
I invite you to join me for anAroma of Christ coaching hour.
Together, we'll help you findbalance, restore peace and
nurture a life overflowing withfaith and love.
Plus, for a short time, I'malso including a Peace RESET at
no charge.

(13:46):
So don't delay.
Book your session now atpaulabehrens.
com/ coaching, where we candiscover your personalized
devotional rhythm and enhanceyour spiritual journey.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
Picture yourself waking up eachmorning eager to dive into

(14:10):
prayer and scripture, armed withresources that cultivate peace
and purpose, allowing God towork profoundly within your life
.
I'm here to walk alongside youevery step of the way.
Book your session now atpaulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
Do it now, while the PeaceRESET is still on the table.

(14:30):
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 review.
Just a quick review will be sohelpful in getting the word out

(14:51):
to other women just 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.
See you next time.