This week in Breaking Free from Body Shame, Jess leads us deeper into a conversation many of us have never had out loud: What has shame been saying about your body?
If you’re like me, shame didn’t always scream—it whispered. It crept in through comparisons, passing comments, and unspoken expectations. My earliest memory of body shame didn’t come from weight or size—it came from my skin.
I have three girl cousins, and I vividly remember summers spent with them. They would tan into these beautiful bronze shades while I, despite my best efforts, would burn bright red and then return to my pale, almost translucent self. No matter how long I stayed in the sun or how hard I tried to hide it, my fair skin felt like a spotlight saying, “You’re different. You’re not enough.”
It’s such a small thing, but shame often starts in the small things. It roots itself in what makes us feel “other.” And before we know it, we’re carrying stories we never meant to write—stories that tell us our bodies are wrong, or at the very least, not as good as someone else’s.
Jess reminds us this week that body shame is not from God. He doesn’t use shame to shape us—He uses love. He doesn’t compare or criticize. He created. And when He did, He said it was very good.
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
This week is about recognizing shame for what it is and refusing to agree with it anymore. You don’t have to hate your body to need healing. Sometimes, freedom starts with simply admitting that shame has been speaking for far too long.
So let’s replace those lies with gospel truth:
Your skin, your shape, your story—they are not mistakes.
You were formed on purpose by a God who does not make accidents.
You don’t have to change to be cherished.
Reflect:
What memory comes to mind when you think of when body shame first showed up?
What silent agreements have you made with shame that God is inviting you to break?
What truth does your body need to hear this week?
You were made for more than comparison and critique.
You were made to reflect the glory of a good and intentional Creator.
You were made to live free—in the skin He gave you.