When Trauma Shapes the Way We See Our Bodies
Because in Him, you are not broken beyond repair—you are being made whole, body and soul.
For so many of us, the battle with body image didn’t begin in front of a mirror. It began in a moment of pain. Maybe it was the cutting words spoken over you when you were young. Maybe it was abuse, neglect, or a relationship that left scars deeper than skin. Maybe it was the silent ache of trying to measure up in a world that sets impossible standards.
Trauma doesn’t just leave marks on our hearts—it settles into our bodies too. The body remembers. It responds. And often, it carries the weight of what we’ve survived.
Sometimes trauma shows up as extra weight—your body’s protective shield, a way of saying, “I need to be safe.”
Sometimes it shows up as shrinking down, appetite gone, as if disappearing could protect you.
Sometimes it shows up as a constant battle in your mind, critiquing, comparing, never quite enough.
No wonder so many of us feel disconnected from our own reflection. No wonder the scale can feel like a judge instead of just a number.
But here’s the truth that trauma tries to hide: God never looks at you through the eyes of shame.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” He is close to the woman staring into the mirror with tears in her eyes. He is near when the weight of shame feels unbearable. He doesn’t ask you to “just get over it.” He comes close.
And in His eyes, you are not defined by what trauma left behind.
He calls you fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
He names you His temple—a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
He clothes you with strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:25).
Healing body image after trauma is not about loving every inch of your body overnight. It’s about shifting the story. It’s about replacing lies with truth:
The lie says, “My body is ruined.” Truth says, “My scars are part of a redeemed story.”
The lie says, “I’ll never be enough.” Truth says, “Christ has already called me chosen and beloved.”
The lie says, “I have to fight this alone.” Truth says, “God has placed me in community to walk toward healing together.”
Every time you look in the mirror, you have a choice: to agree with the old voices of shame or to begin asking, “Lord, show me what You see.”
And what He sees is not sagging skin or extra weight. He sees the strength it took to survive. He sees His grace covering your heart, mind, and body. He sees wholeness being written back into your story.
An Invitation
If this speaks to you—if you’re tired of the shame and ready to discover what it means to live nourished by grace—I’d love to personally invite you into the Nourished by Grace Membership.
This isn’t a place of quick fixes or pressure. It’s a safe space for women walking through food struggles, body shame, and the aftershocks of trauma to breathe, to heal, and to remember they are not alone.
Inside the membership, you’ll find:
💬 Monthly coaching calls (on the 15th of each month) where we talk about real struggles and walk through them with biblical truth and practical tools.
📖 Bible study resources that meet you right where you are and draw you deeper into God’s Word.
🌿 Community support—other women who get it, who understand the ache, and who will walk alongside you with encouragement and prayer.
🕊️ A rhythm of grace—gentle steps toward healing without shame or striving.
You don’t have to carry this weight by yourself anymore. Nourishment isn’t just about food—it’s about wholeness in Christ, hope for tomorrow, and the God who heals every wound.
