#114: Grace + Your Body: Redemption after mistreating your body with Toni Collier

Maybe you are like today’s guest and like me. I have mistreated my body over the years. I’ve deprived it of sleep and calories and nourishing foods. I’ve emotionally eaten my way through hard times, like – just one example here, there are many – when the girls were little and Ryan was out of town for w-e-e-k-s.

I have over-exercised by doing too much when my body was sick and too sore in an attempt to reach an arbitrary fitness goal. And I know I’m not alone.

In this episode, we are talking about how God redeems us and our broken stories after we’ve mistreated our bodies.

While this episode addresses disordered eating, it’s really about the lies we tell ourselves about our bodies and the truth God whispers back to us.

It’s about being weak and fragile and wounded, and a God who holds us in His almighty hands, telling us that His victory and strength are ours.

This is an episode about the redemption of every part of our story, including our body stories.

Key Quotes

“We have to put our spiritual radar up for an enemy that’s after the beauty of our souls.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“We want to be healthy and take care of our bodies and acknowledge that they are not just some last-minute, last-resort part of us.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“I need friends who point me to the cross and not social media or a simple self-care tip.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“There’s a large percentage of healing that’s done when you just name the thing that has broken you.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“When we feel seen and secure, we begin to follow.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“The world sold us this false belief that it’s perfection that brings us success when really it’s surrender.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“When I boast about the very thing that broke me, God gets the glory for the healing that comes thereafter.”- Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“It’s just God using a real crazy girl.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“Oh, He really does use the broken.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“God, could you help me to view you the way that You do?” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“Our Father in heaven wants to show us and prove to us that He loves all of us dearly.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“Expect slow progress.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“We heal so much better in community.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“The healing journey is painful and not linear.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“I’m in the alley, but I’ve got grit and I’ve got hope.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“The resurrection has no power without death.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier
“Let’s go on the painful journeys. Let’s be absolutely brave enough to be broken. And let’s watch God do a resurrecting, redemptive work in us.” – Speaker, author, women’s ministry founder Toni Collier

Mentioned in the Podcast

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About Toni Collier

Toni Collier is the founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color, which helps women process through brokenness and get to hope.

She is a speaker, host, author of Brave Enough to be Broken, – a book that comes out this fall –and consultant who has helped organizations with creative marketing, leadership, student ministry, and strategic planning.

She’s had the opportunity to stand on stages like North Point Community Church, Chick-fil-A, IFGathering, Orange Conference, and MomCon.

She is a wife, mom, Texan, and a fellow Enneagram Three.