Living Free and Leading Others

When you started this book, maybe you weren’t sure what to expect. Maybe you didn’t feel particularly “shame-filled”—just tired of feeling like your body was something to manage, critique, or control. Maybe you were desperate for change. Or maybe, like me, you just needed someone to tell you, you’re not alone.

And now? You’ve made it through nine weeks of showing up, getting honest, and letting truth reshape how you see yourself.

Let’s be clear: this is not the end of the journey.
But it is a marker moment. A stake in the ground. A decision to no longer live bound by shame.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36

Jesus already declared your freedom. This summer, you’ve begun to walk in it.

And the more I’ve walked in it, the more I’ve realized something unexpected:
Shame doesn’t just live in my body—it hides in my thoughts, in my expectations, in the way I speak to myself.

One day, I called myself lazy for not finishing a to-do list—
But the truth was, I had honored God by listening to my body and choosing to rest.
That wasn't laziness. That was obedience.
That was freedom.

Breaking Free from Body Shame gave me language for something I didn’t know I needed—
Freedom not just in how I see my body, but in how I live my life.

Now, I want that for others.
I want women to speak life over their bodies and their schedules.
Their reflections in the mirror and the way they show up in their God-given roles.
That kind of freedom starts when I speak life over myself.

Freedom isn’t just for us—it’s meant to be multiplied.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to be a light.
You just have to be willing to show up honest and walk with others toward healing.

Reflect:

• What part of your story feels freer than it did nine weeks ago?

• Where did you discover shame that wasn’t just about your body?

• Who might need the encouragement you now carry?

You were made for more than body shame.
You were made to live free—and to help others do the same.

Freedom Is a Daily Decision

Some days I wake up and feel peace in my body. Other days, old thoughts creep in—and I wonder if I’ve made any progress at all.

But what I’ve learned is this: freedom isn’t a finish line. It’s a daily decision.

This week, Jess invites us to recognize the patterns of thought that try to pull us back into shame—and to make daily, intentional choices to step forward in truth instead.

There was a morning not long ago when I caught myself standing in front of the mirror, critiquing what I saw. It was subtle—habitual, even. But I stopped. I looked at myself and whispered, “You are not a problem to be fixed. You are a woman loved by God.”

That small moment was a victory.
And those small victories matter.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2

We are being transformed—not all at once, but over time. And every day, we get to participate in that transformation by choosing grace, choosing truth, and choosing to see our bodies as part of God’s good work in us.

Freedom isn’t about pretending the hard thoughts never come. It’s about deciding, again and again, that shame doesn’t get to stay.

This week, don’t wait for a perfect body image day to believe the truth. Speak it anyway. Live it anyway. Love your body as it is, not just when it meets a standard.

You don’t have to feel free to walk free.

Reflect:

• What thoughts do you need to take captive this week?

• What truth do you need to remind yourself of—daily?

• What small step can you take to honor your body today?

You were made for more than one-time victories.
You were made to walk in daily, lived-out, grace-fueled freedom.

My Body Is Not an Obstacle

I don’t recall a time in my life where I was truly satisfied with my body. My body has always been  something to manage, monitor, and minimize so I could do what I really wanted to do—lead, speak, serve, be taken seriously.

Jess invites us into something completely different this week: What if your body isn’t the obstacle—it’s the place where God wants to work?

That truth is reshaping me.

I used to think I had to wait until I looked a certain way before I was good enough. Before I stood in front of a room, or shared something vulnerable, or led with confidence. But I’ve learned that kind of waiting is just shame in disguise. It delays obedience and chokes out joy.

The truth is—God doesn’t need my body to look different before He uses me. He needs me to trust Him with the body I have right now.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… you are not your own; you were bought at a price.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

When I read that verse now, I don’t just hear responsibility—I hear dignity. My body is not just something I carry around; it’s a sacred space where the Spirit of God dwells. And that changes everything.

This week, I’m practicing living embodied. That means I notice when I’m tired and let myself rest. I move because it brings joy, not shame. I lead confidently, knowing my credibility is rooted in my calling—not my appearance.

This body—imperfect, aging, changing (hello, perimenopause)—is still the place God has chosen to show up in my life.

And friend, so is yours.

Reflect:

• Where have you treated your body like an obstacle?

• How might God want to work through your body—not in spite of it?

• What does living embodied look like in your everyday life?

You were made for more than shrinking, striving, or waiting for “someday.”
You were made to live here and now, in the good body God has given you.

Wholeness > Perfection

I used to think I needed to be “in control” of my body to be confident. That if I could get to the right number, feel the right way, or fit into the right size, I’d finally feel whole.

But I’ve learned something else: wholeness has nothing to do with perfection. In fact, the more I chased perfection, the more fragmented I felt.

Jess calls us into something so much deeper this week—into wholeness. Into the kind of peace that doesn’t come from how you look, but from who you are in Christ.

For me, wholeness started looking like asking better questions.
Not “How do I fix this?” but “What does my body need?”
Not “Why can’t I just get it together?” but “Where can I show myself grace?”

There was a shift when I stopped trying to discipline my body into submission and started trying to care for it like a friend. Not perfectly, but consistently. And as I did, I noticed something: I was no longer viewing my body as a problem—I was learning to see it as a partner.

“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” – Song of Solomon 4:7

That verse used to make me squirm. Now, I’m learning to believe it—not because my body is flawless, but because God doesn’t view me through the lens of flaws. He sees me through the lens of love.

This week, take a step toward wholeness. Not in effort, but in kindness. Not in pressure, but in peace.

Reflect:

• What does wholeness look like for you?

• Where are you still chasing perfection instead of receiving grace?

• What’s one gentle step you can take toward caring for your body like a friend?

You were made for more than control and criticism.
You were made to live whole, loved, and free.

Speak This Over Yourself:

I release the need to be perfect.
I choose to be whole.

My body is not a project—
it is a gift, a vessel, a friend.

I care for it with kindness,
not criticism.

I do not chase peace through performance.
I receive peace through God’s presence.

I am loved, not because I am flawless,
but because I am His.

Wholeness is mine in Christ—
and I walk in that freedom today.

Choosing Grace Over Control

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.

Letting Go of the Lies

This week, Breaking Free from Body Shame invites us into hard but holy work: identifying and letting go of the lies we’ve believed about our bodies.

And let me tell you—this work is tender.

For years, I thought that if I could just change a few things about my body—tone this, shrink that—I would finally feel confident. Finally feel worthy. But here’s what I’ve learned: no amount of striving can silence shame if you’re still agreeing with its lies.

There’s one particular lie that clung to me for a long time:
"You have to look a certain way to be taken seriously."

I didn’t even realize how much I believed it. I just carried the quiet pressure, thinking that if I didn’t measure up to some invisible standard, my voice or my influence wouldn’t have the same credibility. It wasn’t something anyone said outright—it was something I picked up slowly through comparisons, cultural expectations, and unspoken assumptions even in Christian spaces.

But God, in His mercy, began to uncover that lie. Through His Word, through godly counsel, and through His patient love, He reminded me:

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

Slowly, I’m learning that my calling isn’t tied to how I look.
My worth isn’t determined by my weight.
And my voice isn’t validated by the approval of others—it’s validated by the God who formed me, and that truth reaches far beyond how I look; it anchors my worth, my calling, and the credibility of my influence.

This week, Jess reminds us that freedom doesn’t come from changing our bodies—it comes from changing our minds. From refusing to agree with shame. From speaking truth louder than the lies.

Reflect:

• What lie about your body are you ready to lay down?

• What truth can you speak over yourself instead?

• How might believing truth change the way you move through your day?

You were made for more than managing appearances.
You were made to live loved, chosen, and free.

Seeing My Body Through God’s Eyes

This week, Jess Connolly challenges us to look at our bodies differently—not through the lens of culture, comparison, or insecurity, but through the eyes of our Creator.

For most of my life, I didn’t really think about how God viewed my body. I thought about how others might view it. I thought about how to manage it, fix it, or ignore it—not how to honor it. But learning to see my body as good has completely changed how I relate to it.

Since I started seeing my body as good—not perfect, not finished, but good—I’ve become kinder toward it. I’ve learned to listen to it, knowing that it’s not working against me, but actually trying to care for me.

There are times throughout the month when my body has more energy or less. And instead of pushing through, I’m learning to pay attention. When I’m tired, I rest. When I have strength, I move. I’ve started asking not, “How can I control my body?” but, “How can I serve it as it serves me?”

I think more about what foods fuel me—not to follow a trend or earn approval, but to help my body function with peace and energy. I limit foods that impact my mood in a negative way, not as punishment but as an act of grace. I don’t strive to look like someone else anymore—I thank God for what my body allows me to do, no matter what size I am.

It’s a gentler way to live. A freer way to live. And I believe it honors the One who created me.

“The King is enthralled by your beauty.” – Psalm 45:11

God doesn’t tolerate our bodies—He delights in them. If that’s true, then we can learn to see them with kindness, too.

This week is an invitation to reframe our vision. To ask God to help us see what He sees. Your body is not a distraction from your spiritual life—it is the very place where your life with God unfolds.

Reflect:

• How has your relationship with your body changed over time?

• What is one way you could care for your body with kindness this week?

• What truth does your body need to hear from you today?

You were made for more than comparison, control, or criticism.
You were made to live free—in the good body God gave you.

Speak This Over Yourself:

My body is good.
Not because it’s perfect—
but because it was made by God.

I choose to listen to my body,
to honor it with rest, nourishment, and strength.
I will not punish my body—
I will serve it, as it serves me.

I do not need to look like anyone else.
I am grateful for what this body allows me to do—
in every season, at every size.

I am not defined by shame.
I am not held back by comparison.
I was made on purpose, for a purpose.
And today, I live free in the skin God gave me.

When Shame Speaks First

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.

Your Body Is Not the Problem

If starting this book feels a little uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Many of us have spent years—decades even—believing quiet lies about our bodies. Lies that told us we were too much, not enough, or simply not good. And most of us haven’t really questioned those lies… until now.

Jess Connolly opens Breaking Free from Body Shame by offering us a different lens—a gospel lens. She reminds us that our bodies aren’t a problem to fix or an obstacle to overcome. They are good. They are made by God. They are the vessel that carries the very treasure of His Spirit.

That truth has taken me a long time to receive.

I’m 45 years old, and I can honestly say it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve had any positive thoughts about my body. I can’t say I hated my body—but I also never saw it as a gift. I didn’t know what it meant to honor the vessel God gave me, much less love it.

I’ve spent most of my life disconnected from the reality that my body is not separate from my calling—it’s part of it. And like so many women, I just didn’t have the language or the education to understand how my faith and my physical body were deeply connected.

But I believe God cares about this. Deeply.
I believe that women—young and old—are carrying shame they were never meant to hold. And I believe the enemy uses body shame to distract, diminish, and discourage women who are made in the image of God.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” – Psalm 139:14

This first week is about noticing where shame has snuck in and starting to rewrite the story. Jess says it plainly: Your body is not the problem. But the world—and sometimes even the Church—has taught us otherwise. We’ve picked up shame like it belonged to us, and we’ve worn it for too long.

But this summer? We’re laying it down.

Reflect:

• What thoughts or feelings come up when you think about your body?

• When did you start believing it was something to manage instead of something to honor?

• What would it look like to speak truth over your body this week?

You don’t have to fix your body to honor it.
You don’t have to love every inch of it to live free.
You just have to begin believing what God already says is true.

You were made for more than shame.
You were made to live free—in the very body He gave you.