What to Do When You Can't Feel Joy: Breaking Through Barriers to Lasting Joy as a Christian Woman

What to Do When You Can't Feel Joy: Breaking Through Barriers to Lasting Joy as a Christian Woman

Author: Heather Creekmore - Christian Body Image Author and Speaker February 3, 2026 Duration: 45:04

Do you ever feel like joy is just out of reach? Is it something you have to work for, fake, or wait for some future version of yourself to finally experience? Heather Creekmore gets it—and she’s opening up in this episode with honesty about her own struggles to feel true joy, even while doing “all the right things” as a Christian.

In this episode, Heather Creekmore shares her journey through perfectionism, body image battles, and chasing joy through achievements, life changes, and even motherhood, only to find that joy can’t be manufactured through striving, positivity, or “arriving.” What actually blocks our joy, and how do we finally break free?

You’ll hear:

  • The difference between happiness and joy—why this matters more than you might think

  • The three big “joy blockers” and how they can sneak into anyone’s life (even when you know all the right answers!)

  • Vulnerable storytelling about wrestling with body image, marriage, and motherhood, and what happens when joy doesn’t show up as you hoped

  • Practical, faith-based strategies for actually growing in joy—no matter what your circumstances

  • Encouragement to stop chasing “just over yonder” happiness and instead, rest in the truth of where joy is really found

  • A free resource just for you: The “Obsessed to Blessed” mini-course at improvebodyimage.com/obsessed-to-blessed, helping you bookend your search for joy and freedom from body image struggles

Whether you’re feeling joyless, weighed down by shoulds, or just yearning for something real and lasting, this conversation is a hug for your soul and a nudge towards real hope. If you’re ready to stop comparing and start living, this episode is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned:

  • Free Mini-Course: “Obsessed to Blessed” – learn more and sign up at improvebodyimage.com/obsessed-to-blessed

  • Work with Heather and her team to find your joy. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/christian-body-image-courses-and-coaching


    Don’t miss out—press play and rediscover the joy that’s closer than you think!

Subscribe, share, and join the community as we break free from comparison and uncover the joy that lasts.

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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

Compared to Who? Body Image for Christian Women
Podcast Episodes
Is God Happy When I Lose Weight? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
Has the weigh-in woman at Weight Watchers shaped your concept of God? Today's episode was inspired when Heather heard a story of a woman whose body image issues and eating disorders could be traced back to the ever-prese…
What if I Just Want a Body I'm Proud of? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
In this summer replay, Heather digs into this common sentiment, "I just want to feel good" or "I just want to feel okay" about my body. What's wrong with wanting a body you can be "proud of?" She explores how this is a s…
Surrendering Certainty: How Do We Trust in God and Not Our Plans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
Heather interviews author and speaker, Abby McDonald about her new book, "Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today By Letting Go of Tomorrow." Abby and Heather talk about how we can hear and receive direction from God e…
How Do I Get Over What Others Think of Me Coaching Presli [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:09
Today's live coaching call with Presli will make you think and encourage your heart. Heather coaches Presli through what to do when she panics, freezes, and feels insecure around women who are thinner, prettier, or more…
What to Do if You Feel Like the Fattest Person in the Room? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:54
Have you ever felt like you were the fattest or ugliest person in the room? Maybe you showed up at an event and feel self-conscious because everyone is smaller or better looking than you. It's happened to all of us, but…
Should I Worry About My BMI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Stressing over your BMI? Perhaps a recent doctor's visit has you spiraling over what you need to do to change your Body Mass Index. Today, Heather sits down with two authors who have researched the history, background, a…
Will Dance Give My Daughter Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:59
Have you ever wondered if participating in dance could lead to body image issues? Heather talks to clients with a dance background and have body image issues from what a dance instructor said or from participating in an…
Will Ozempic Weight Loss Drugs Fix My Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:55
In today's "Me vs. ChatGPT" episode, Heather tackles the topic of Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist medications that are now being prescribed to people for weight loss. She uses ChatGPT to help answer the question, "Will O…
How to Try on a Swimsuit if You Don't Like How Your Body Looks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:04
Today Heather tackles a topic relevant to many women in May: How to try on a swimsuit if you don't like how your body looks. If you're struggling with how your body looks but needing some swimwear for the season ahead, H…