Grace and control can’t coexist. Ask me how I know. This week, Jess invites us into one of the most freeing—and also most uncomfortable—shifts in Breaking Free from Body Shame: choosing grace over control.
If I’m being honest, I’ve spent a lot of my life believing that the only way to feel peace about my body was to be in control of it. If I could just eat the “right” way, move the “right” amount, look the “right” way, then maybe I’d feel okay. Maybe I’d feel free.
But here’s what I’ve learned: control doesn’t lead to freedom—it leads to obsession.
And grace? Grace feels risky at first. Grace feels like giving up. Grace feels like I’m not trying hard enough. But grace is actually the only thing that creates space for healing.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
I’ve had to learn to stop punishing my body when it doesn’t perform the way I want it to. I’ve had to stop letting a pair of jeans determine my mood. I’ve had to remind myself—sometimes daily—that freedom doesn’t mean apathy, but it also doesn’t mean obsession.
Recently, I found myself starting to spiral again—wanting to “tighten up” and get things “under control.” But instead of starting a new plan, I paused and asked:
What would it look like to respond to my body with grace right now instead of control?
That simple question changed everything. I moved my body not to make up for anything, but to honor it. I made nourishing choices without guilt. And I gave thanks for a body that lets me show up and serve and love—regardless of how it looks that day.
This week is your invitation to do the same. Grace might not always feel natural, but it will always be more sustainable than shame.
Reflect:
Where has control crept into your relationship with your body?
What does choosing grace look like for you this week?
What truth can you hold onto when you’re tempted to spiral?
You were made for more than managing your body like a project.
You were made to live free—in grace, not control.