Your body isn’t the problem - your theology might be.

One biblical misconception that trips up so many women.

Five years ago, I wrote Breaking Free from Body Shame, and if I’m honest—I didn’t set out to write a book on the theology of the body.

I just knew I had experienced freedom from a lifelong battle of hating my body, and I wanted other women to know this good news: God made their bodies good.

But as I started writing, I realized that many of us weren’t just struggling because of media, diet culture, or the negative words we heard growing up.

We’re struggling because our theology is off.

Ask the average Christian woman a few basic biblical questions about her body, and chances are—she’s not quite sure how to answer. And depending on where she’s from or who she’s learning from, those answers can vary wildly.

This week on The Jess Connolly Podcast, I released what might be my favorite episode in a while. We’re diving into embodiment, taking care of our somatic needs, and doing a quick but powerful overview of the theology of the body.

And here’s the big idea I believe is leading to so much harm:

Too often, we confuse the body (Greek: soma) and the flesh (Greek: sarx). In Scripture, flesh refers to our sinful nature or human weakness (Romans 8:5–8, Galatians 5:17), while body refers to the physical creation God designed with intention and care. Though these words are often used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same thing at all.

And here’s why this matters:

• Great harm can come from obeying our flesh, but...

• Great harm can also come from ignoring our bodies.

I believe many women are struggling because, in their effort to tame their flesh, they’ve neglected the care of their bodies—sometimes even viewing nourishment, rest, and attentiveness as obstacles to spiritual maturity.

See how this small distinction changes everything?

If this resonates with you—or even if it feels confusing or intriguing—I’d love for you to check out this week’s episode.

Again, it’s one of my absolute favorites, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Let’s live fully awake—amen?

Jess