How to Stop Striving: Is it God Doing the Work or Are You Trying to Fix Yourself?

How to Stop Striving: Is it God Doing the Work or Are You Trying to Fix Yourself?

Author: Heather Creekmore - Christian Body Image Author and Speaker September 30, 2025 Duration: 33:07
Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityChristianityFitnessHealthHealth & FitnessMentalSpirituality

Are you exhausted from trying to be a “better Christian,” follow all the rules, or just fix yourself? In this episode, Heather Creekmore dives into the age-old dilemma every believer faces: Am I supposed to be working on me—and if so, how much of it is up to me, and how much is God’s job?

Inspired by the Crowder song “He’s Working on Me Still,” Heather explores the difference between self-powered striving and Spirit-powered transformation. Using honest stories, biblical wisdom (especially from Galatians 5), and practical illustrations, she helps Christian women understand why hustling for holiness leaves us tired—and how true freedom and growth comes when we move from “I’m working on me” to “He’s working on me.”

In This Episode:

  • Why spiritual striving, religious rule-following, and willpower can’t bring long-term freedom

  • How diet culture mindsets sneak into our faith and make us rely on formulas instead of God

  • What it means to step out of the driver’s seat and let God be in control (with relatable analogies and humor)

  • The power of relationship over religion and why faith is more than just “doing all the things”

  • How to recognize if your spiritual life is based on head knowledge, not heart transformation

  • Practical steps to move from self-reliance to Spirit-dependence—including honest reflection questions and the importance of daily worship

Key Takeaway:
Stop striving for self-improvement and start leaning into God’s grace. When we let go of self-reliance and invite the Holy Spirit to lead, we experience true rest, freedom, and lasting spiritual growth.

Mentions & Resources:

Listener Challenge:
Who’s really in the driver’s seat of your faith right now?

This week, pause and ask God to lead, spend extra time in worship, and notice where you’re striving instead of surrendering.

Leave a Review:
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Heather Creekmore, a Christian body image author and speaker, hosts Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women. This space is for women who are exhausted by the constant pressure to measure up, whether it's to cultural ideals of beauty, fitness goals, or even spiritual performance. It’s common to know scripture about your worth in Christ yet feel a disconnect when you look in the mirror or navigate daily life. This podcast directly addresses that gap, moving beyond simplistic self-help or well-meaning clichés that often leave you feeling more defeated. Instead, conversations are grounded in a thoughtful blend of faith, mental health, and practical wellness. You’ll hear honest discussions about how spirituality intersects with the very real struggles of body image, diet culture, and personal comparison. Each episode aims to provide not just encouragement but tangible steps to help you live out your God-given identity with freedom and confidence. The goal is a stronger, more integrated faith that transforms how you see yourself, not by the world’s ever-changing standards, but through a lens of grace and truth. Tune in for a candid and compassionate resource that meets you right where you are.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
Podcast Episodes
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