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180. Why You Can’t Heal Your Body Without Spiritual Freedom (From Guilt, Control, and Shame) with Shelley Spence

If you’ve been doing all the right things—working out, eating better, praying more—but still feel stuck in your body, your mindset, or your faith… this episode may explain why.

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Shaela sits down with licensed professional counselor and life coach Shelley Spence to unpack the connection between spiritual freedom and physical health—and why so many Christian women stay trapped in cycles of guilt, control, perfectionism, and shame when it comes to their bodies.

This episode goes far beyond surface-level fitness or nutrition advice. It explores what it really means to walk unhindered with God—and how unaddressed spiritual bondage often shows up as body image struggles, emotional eating, burnout, program hopping, and frustration with health results.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • Why you don’t have to believe every thought you think—and how to test thoughts against Scripture

  • What spiritual freedom actually looks like (and why it’s not just “trying harder”)

  • How shame, fear, and hidden beliefs can block progress in weight loss, fitness, and body confidence

  • Why healing happens in layers, not overnight—and why plateaus aren’t failures

  • The surprising connection between body image, identity in Christ, and midlife changes

  • How Christian women unintentionally place their worth in their appearance, discipline, or consistency

  • Why striving for control in health often leads to more exhaustion—not results

  • How to gently move toward freedom if food, wine, scrolling, or distractions have become coping tools

  • The biblical truth that God’s grace is sufficient, even when your body feels weak or uncooperative

Shelley also shares her own journey through spiritual freedom using the Keys to Freedom Bible study, how the Lord revealed hidden areas of “playing small,” and what it means to reclaim surrendered ground—spiritually and physically.

This conversation is for the Christian woman who:

  • Feels tired of trying to “fix” her body

  • Is overwhelmed by health advice but still not seeing results

  • Wants freedom from guilt, legalism, and perfectionism

  • Desires health that honors God—not idolizes discipline

  • Is ready to stop striving and start walking in alignment with the Holy Spirit

If you’ve been chasing change in your body but ignoring what’s happening in your spirit, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Shelley Spence

 

Free Resources from Shaela

Christian Fitness Hub (Free)
Simple, faith-based fitness and nutrition resources to help you take your next step with clarity and confidence.
👉 https://hub.simplefitnesshabits.com 

The Stronger Collective – Waitlist
A Christ-centered fitness, nutrition, and community experience for women who want structure, accountability, and sustainable health habits—without burnout or obsession.
👉 https://www.thestrongerco.com