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
How to Feel Better About How You Look in Family Pictures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:58
Have you been putting off the formal family photos until you lose weight or change your appearance? Today, Heather gives all her best strategies for tackling, surviving, and maybe even enjoying (just a little) the family…
How Does My Faith Help My Body Image Issues? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:52
If you're a Christian woman with body image issues, today Heather will fire you up with encouragement around how your Christian faith and beliefs can speak directly to your body image issues. You have a BIG faith that he…
How Do I Feel Okay in Shorts? Me vs ChatGPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:10
Today Heather faces off with ChatGPT to see who can better answer the question, "How Do I Feel Okay Wearing Shorts?" Heather reads through ChatGPT's comprehensive answer (and body image coaching attempts) and then adds h…
Hormones and Body Image Issues in Perimenopause and Beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
Dr. Mikala Albertson joins Heather again today to continue an interesting discussion of how hormones play with our minds and can affect how we feel about our bodies. Today the conversation extends to perimenopause and be…
How Hormones Affect Your Body Image All Through Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:52
Is your body image really about how your body looks or are your hormones playing tricks on you? Today, Heather interviews Dr. Mikala Albertson about how our hormones affect the ways we feel and think about our bodies. In…