EPISODE 9 : Prowling Lions, What Was Isaac Thinking + Hating our Body

Hey sis!

We’re back with another jam-packed episode, and today we’re diving deep—talking all things body image and how we really feel about how we look, the sneaky ways Satan tries to trip us up, and what Isaac might’ve been thinking when Abraham took him up that mountain.

Yep, we’re going there. So buckle up—it’s gonna be a wild one!

Okay, so picture this with me: You're on a wild African safari. The sun’s golden and hot, shimmering over tall, whispering grasses that dance in the breeze. You’re riding in one of those bumpy jeeps, eyes wide, heart pounding... and there—right there in the tall brush—you spot him.

A lion.

But not just any lion.

He’s crouched low, nearly invisible. His golden fur blends perfectly with the grass. You can almost hear the soft pad of his paws as he moves slow, silent, stealthy. He’s not charging yet. Nope. He’s waiting. Watching. Strategizing. Looking for the moment when his prey is distracted, alone, weak... and that’s when he’ll pounce.

Now hold up—before we get totally freaked out, let’s hit pause. Because guess what? The Bible actually describes Satan as a prowling lion too. Did you know that? 

In 1 Peter 5:8, it says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

Whoa.

Satan is out here using the same tactics—sneaky, patient, waiting for the right moment. 

He doesn’t usually come at us all loud and obvious. Nope, he lurks, especially when we’re tired, sad, isolated, or struggling with the same old weak spots we always fall into.

And here’s the kicker—he’s not very creative.

He’ll go after the same area in your heart again and again, hoping you haven’t learned to guard it yet.

And you know who else he tried this game on? Jesus. Yeah, even Jesus wasn’t off-limits. When Jesus was alone in the wilderness, super hungry and weak, Satan swooped in with temptation. And get this—Satan used scripture against Him. He knows the Bible. Really well. Which means, girls, we need to know it even better.

So let’s jump in today as we explore what it looks like to stand strong, spot the lies, and sharpen our hearts with God’s truth—because we’ve got lion-proof armor, and it starts with the Word.

Absolutely!

Here’s a Scripture-heavy, fun, and fierce few paragraphs that break it down for your tween girl audience while still bringing truth and fire. It's written in a way that’s clear, relatable, and visually rich:

Okay sis, let’s get real for a second—have you ever had one of those days where you're just feeling off? Like, you're suddenly super insecure, comparing yourself to every girl on Instagram, feeling anxious for no reason, or like you're not enough?

Well guess what… that’s not just random. That’s Satan—yes, the Satan—doing what he always does.

John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy...” 

That’s Satan’s job description, straight-up. He’s not just bad vibes—he’s literally on a mission to ruin your joy, peace, and purpose.

And the Bible does not sugarcoat who he is. 1 Peter 5:8 puts it like this: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

Um, yikes. A prowling lion?

That means he’s not chillin’ in a cave somewhere—he’s on the move, hunting.

Watching.

Waiting for a weak moment.

But here's the good news:

God didn’t leave us unarmed.

In fact, He gives us a full-on spiritual wardrobe in Ephesians 6—aka, the Armor of God.

Starting in May, we’re kicking off a new series all about this heavenly armor, and girl… it is fierce.

So let’s preview it real quick, because if you’re gonna fight a lion, you don’t show up in flip-flops and lip gloss—you show up in battle gear.

The Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14) — This is like your spiritual core strength. Lies feel heavy, but truth sets you free.

Strap in with God’s Word so when Satan whispers, “You’re not good enough,” you can say, “Actually, God says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

The Breastplate of Righteousness — Protects your heart, girl! When you live God’s way and choose what’s right, you guard yourself from shame and guilt—Satan’s favorite weapons.

Feet Fitted with the Gospel of Peace — These are your spiritual sneakers! Ready to run into the world with confidence and peace, not chaos. When drama starts, peace walks away.

The Shield of Faith — It literally blocks flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:16)! Satan throws lies, fear, and doubt, but faith is like, “Nope. Not today.”

The Helmet of Salvation — Protects your mind. Your thoughts matter. If Satan can get in your head, he can mess up your day. But salvation says: You are saved. You are safe. You are His.

The Sword of the Spirit — This is your weapon, and it’s the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He clapped back with Scripture every time (Matthew 4). If Jesus used the Bible to fight Satan, so should we!

So sis, here’s your takeaway: the enemy is sneaky, but not creative—he uses the same old tricks. 

Lies, fear, insecurity.

But we’ve got the blueprint to spot him and stop him.

Know the Word.

Know your weak spots.

And show up every day dressed in your spiritual armor like the warrior princess you are.

You are not alone in this battle. And you are already victorious because Jesus fights with you. So next time the enemy starts prowling—let him find you fully armored and unbothered.

So, starting Sunday, May 4th, we’re kicking off a brand new series all about the Armor of God—and we’re not just reading about it, we’re gonna break it down and talk about real-life ways to actually use it to fight off the enemy’s lies and sneak attacks.

But before we suit up, let’s take a deep dive into something that hits close to home—body image.

Yep, it’s a big topic, and it gets real... but we’re in it together, girl. Let’s go there.

So, Britt from Texas wrote in on Saturday and had some pretty intense things to say about herself.

She asked, “If God is good, why do I have a body that I really hate? I donʼt feel comfortable in my own skin, people make fun of me and I am twice the size of other girls my age. Its so confusing to me to hear that God is a “good father” and he knit me together in my motherʼs womb, only to look and feel like this. Can you help me make sense of this? Iʼm angry about it. I just want to be small and skinny like all the other girls in my class.”

Britt, Whew, okay—first off, thank you for creating a space for this kind of real, honest question. This is the stuff girls are actually thinking but are often too scared to say out loud. So props to her for being brave, and props to you for wanting to meet her where she’s at—with truth, yes, but also tenderness and understanding.

Girl, thank you for being real.

Like, really real. 

Your honesty takes guts—and trust me, God can handle your anger and your confusion. In fact, He welcomes it. You're not too much for Him. Your pain, your questions, even your anger? He sees it all, and He’s not scared of it.

Now let’s talk about your question—"If God is good, why do I have a body I hate?"

That’s deep. And hard. And totally fair.

Let’s start by clearing something up: God never said the way your body looks would be easy to accept in this world.

In fact, the world we live in is super broken—like, seriously flawed. 

Romans 8:22 says, “All creation has been groaning...” 

That groan?

It’s the pain we feel in our bodies, in our minds, and in our hearts when we realize things aren’t how they’re supposed to be.

So, you’re not crazy or shallow for feeling uncomfortable in your skin. Your pain is real.

But here’s the truth: your body is not the problem—our culture’s broken definition of beauty is.

• Let’s look at what the Bible actually says about beauty:

• In 1 Samuel 16:7, God reminds us: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  So while the world is out here obsessing over who’s skinny, trendy, or TikTok-famous, God is laser-focused on what’s happening on the inside.

  
  

Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” 

God’s not against beauty—but He redefines it. He says beauty is about your faith, your strength, your kindness—not your waistline.

And let’s be real: it’s exhausting to chase the world’s beauty standard. Because it keeps changing, and it never satisfies. That “perfect body” you wish you had? It wouldn’t fix your heart.

Only God can do that.

Now, about Psalm 139—the whole “fearfully and wonderfully made” thing.

You’re right. When you feel awful in your skin, those words can feel like a band-aid over a deep wound.

But let’s not stop at that one verse.

Let’s zoom out.

Psalm 139 also says: “You hem me in, behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” 

In other words: You are not a mistake. You are seen, surrounded, held, and known—before you even had a body.

And girl, Jesus? He gets it. Isaiah 53:2 literally says Jesus “had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him.”

He wasn't hot.

He wasn’t glowing.

He was rejected, despised, and acquainted with grief.

If anyone understands what it feels like to be unwanted or mocked—it’s Him.

So here’s what you can do:

• Name the lies – Start calling out the lies you’ve believed about your body. Lies like “I’ll never be beautiful,” or “I’m not enough unless I’m skinny.”

  
  

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take every thought captive.” That means we can literally trap a lie and replace it with truth.

• Start small with truth – Don’t jump to “I love my body.” That might feel fake right now.

  
  

Start with, “My body has value because God made it.” That’s still true, even if you’re not feeling it yet.

• Speak scripture over yourself like it’s armor (because it is). When Satan whispers, “You're too big, too much, not enough,” you get to say back:

• “God chose me before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4)

• “I am God’s workmanship.” (Ephesians 2:10)

• “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Bring your body into the light – Don’t hide.

Don’t shrink.

Don’t believe the lie that thinner means better.

You are allowed to take up space and walk in the freedom Jesus already gave you.

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”

And sis, starting in May, we’re gonna dive into the Armor of God, because this fight?

It’s spiritual. 

And God didn’t leave you helpless.

He gave you the belt of truth to wrap around your waist, the breastplate to guard your heart, the shield to block the lies, and a sword—the Word of God—to swing back with power.

You’re not just a girl with a body. You’re a warrior with a purpose.

And even if you feel like the world is shouting that you’re too big, too much, or not enough—heaven is singing over you (Zephaniah 3:17).

You are seen. You are chosen. And you are deeply loved by a God who is far more concerned with your character than your clothing size.

Let’s fight this together.

Alright, moving right along to question number two… I feel like I need to disclaim this one.

Remember last episode when I mentioned that the Bible wasnʼt always pretty, everything tied up with a pretty little bow, well that is true of question number two.

It is messy and difficult, and honestly, pretty emotional. So…maybe grab your journals, find your cozy blanket, and get ready because this story? It's one of the wildest moments in the entire Bible—and honestly, it's kind of a rollercoaster of emotions.

So a sweet girl wrote in asking about Isaac’s age when his dad, Abraham, took him up the mountain to be sacrificed. And girl, what a good question.

But I cannot simply do this story justice by just answering the age of Isaac at the time of this event. That would be doing you all a huge disservice.

So instead, weʼre going to look at the age scholars THINK Isaac might have been but then unpack this story a little more at large.

So…

The Bible doesn’t give Isaac’s exact age, but based on the context, most scholars believe he was probably a teenager—maybe around 12 to 16 years old. So not a little baby who didn’t know what was going on, but also not a full-grown man. Basically… your age.

Now, let’s paint the picture:

Abraham hears God say: “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there…” (Genesis 22:2)

And now for a little context. So before we dive deeper into Isaac’s wild and heart-wrenching story, I think we have to hit pause and rewind here a little bit —because to really understand how huge this moment was, you’ve gotta know the backstory.

Let’s talk about Abraham for a sec.

Way back in Genesis 12, God gave Abraham a massive promise. He said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them… so shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5)

In other words: “Abraham, I’m going to give you so many descendants (or children), you won’t even be able to count them.”But here’s the thing: Abraham had no kids. Zero. Nada. And he and his wife Sarah were already old. 

Like, grandparent-age old.

And then… nothing happened.

Not for a year.

Not for five years.

Not for TWENTY-FIVE years.

Yep, Abraham waited about 25 years from the time God made that promise to the day baby Isaac was finally born.

That’s longer than you’ve been alive!

Imagine hoping, waiting, praying, watching birthdays go by, watching Sarah cry, and still—no baby.

Then finally… when Abraham was 100 years old—Isaac was born. The miracle baby. The promised son. The one they had dreamed about for decades.

So now—fast forward. Isaac is growing up. He’s their whole world. Their joy.

The evidence that God keeps His promises. 

And then one day, Abraham hears God say:

“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there…” (Genesis 22:2)

Wait… what??

Sacrifice means, offer him up to me as an offering - in other words, kill him on an altar.

Can you imagine how much that must’ve wrecked Abraham? After all that waiting, after finally receiving the promise—God asks for it back. Not just for Abraham to give Isaac up, but to take him up a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice.

The heartbreak.

The confusion.

The “This makes no sense, God” feelings?

All there.

And yet… Abraham goes.

Faithfully.

Obediently.

Why? Because somewhere deep inside, he trusted that God could still be good—even when the plan made zero sense.

Hebrews 11:19 tells us Abraham believed “God could even raise the dead.” 

That’s next-level faith.

Like, “Even if I lose the promise, I know God’s not done yet” kind of faith.

So when Abraham lays Isaac down on that altar, it’s not just a hard moment—it’s a soul-crushing act of faith. He’s placing everything he waited for, prayed for, cried over… back in God’s hands.

And that’s why what happens next is so powerful.

When God says “Stop!” and provides the ram in the bushes, it’s not just about rescuing Isaac. It’s about showing us that God never needed the sacrifice—He just wanted to see if Abraham trusted Him enough to give up what he loved most.

So here’s the real lesson from the Abraham side of this story:

Sometimes faith means waiting longer than feels fair.Sometimes faith means giving back what you thought was finally yours.

But God always provides.

Maybe not the way you expect.

Maybe not on your timeline.

But He always shows up—and His plans are always better.

So if you’re in a season of waiting, or I letting go, or wondering if God even sees you—remember Abraham.

Remember Isaac.

And remember the ram in the thicket.

God’s timing is slow sometimes, but it’s perfect.

And His promises?

They never fail.

Ok, now back to the Isaac lens of this story. So…instead of arguing, asking all the clarifying questions - Abraham simply obeys.

You serious?

Like, honestly? 

Can you pause.

Put yourself there for a minute.

Kaase, go and offer your daughter - kill her - to please me. Um, no thank you, God. 

WOAH!!

Ok, so - He packs wood, loads the donkey, and takes Isaac on a three-day journey to the mountain.

Three. Whole. Days. You, guys! 

Can you imagine what Isaac was thinking as they walked? I mean—he’s been around his dad his whole life. He knows what a sacrifice looks like. There's always an animal. ALWAYS/

But this time? Just him and his dad. Just the two of them. And no lamb.

At one point, Isaac finally asks: “Umm, Dad… the fire and the wood are here, but where’s the lamb?” (Genesis 22:7)And Abraham says, “God will provide.” 

Which is true.

But also? Isaac has to wonder, “What if I’m the sacrifice?” Donʼt you think? Wouldnʼt you… and imagine how long those remaining days, walking step-in-step with his dad had to be.

So finally… after all that walking- they reach the mountain. Abraham builds an altar. The wood is laid out. And then—deep breath—Genesis 22:9 says Abraham "bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar."

Pause.

Hold up.

Let that land.

His dad. Ties him up. Lays him down. On the altar.

And then reaches for a knife.

Are you stinking serious right now?

Get out of town.

Shut the front door.

Like, I just donʼt have words. 

Can you imagine the confusion? The fear? The heartbreak? Isaac wasn’t just sitting there, chillin’.

He likely knew what was about to happen. His own dad—who he trusted—was going to sacrifice him.

Let’s think about this from Isaac’s side for a sec:

• He could’ve run. He could’ve fought back. But he didn’t.

• He let himself be bound.

• He let himself be laid down.

• He watched his father raise the knife.

  
  

And he said... nothing.

Do you think tears filled his fatherʼs eyes?

Donʼt you imagine Isaac had 20,752 questions?

The trust.

Like, it actually destroys me inside.

Thinking about my own girls in this moment. The profound empathy that I have for Isaac - for his confusion. Yet the profound trust that Abraham demonstrated.I honestly just donʼt have words for either situation! 

This wasn’t just Abraham’s test—it was Isaac’s test too. And he showed radical trust. Maybe not in his dad’s plan, but in God’s. Maybe he remembered all the times his dad had told him stories about God’s promises, about miracles, about God's goodness.

And right before it’s too late—God says “Stop! Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” (Genesis 22:12).

Then BOOM—there’s a ram caught in the bushes.

God provides. 

Not a moment too soon. But He does. Just like Abraham said.

So…What Can We Learn From Isaac?

God sometimes asks us to walk through confusing things.Isaac didn’t know why this was happening.

He probably didn’t understand it.

But he walked in obedience anyway. Trust doesn't always mean having all the answers—it just means holding God's hand in the middle of the unknown.

• Obedience is sometimes scary… but it’s never wasted. Isaac didn’t just survive that day—he carried that story with him the rest of his life. And maybe it changed how he trusted God. Maybe it made him stronger. And guess what? He didn’t die on that mountain… a part of his faith was born there.

• God always makes a way—even if it’s at the last second. It might feel like the clock is running out, like God isn’t coming through, but He is a right-on-time kind of God. The ram was already there. It just wasn’t revealed yet.

  
  

This story points to Jesus.

Yep—this is wild.

Isaac carried the wood up the mountain… just like Jesus carried the cross.

Isaac was the son being sacrificed… just like Jesus was. But here’s the twist: Isaac got off the altar because God provided a ram.

Jesus stayed on the cross… because He was the Lamb.

The one final sacrifice.

So you’d never have to be.

Alright, so remember last episode how I talked about making this faith your own?

That I donʼt just want to GIVE you the answers, but actually leave you having more questions. To really make this personal I want you to do some homework tonight.

I want you to find a journal and write this somewhere big and bold: 

“Even when I don’t understand, I will trust the God who provides.”

Now, grab your bibles, I have a handful of verses that I want you to spend some time digging into over the weekend! 

Verses to Look Up to Better Understand God’s Character in the Story of Abraham & Isaac:

1. Genesis 22:1–14 – The full story of Abraham and Isaac. Have them read it slowly, maybe even out loud. Encourage them to notice how many times God shows up—and when.

   
   

2. Hebrews 11:17–19 – This gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what Abraham was thinking. It shows that Abraham trusted God so much he believed He could raise Isaac from the dead if needed.

   
   

3. Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also… graciously give us all things?” This connects Isaac’s story to Jesus—God provided a ram for Isaac, but gave His own Son for us.

   
   

4. James 1:17 – “Every good and perfect gift is from above…” Reminds them that God’s gifts are good—even if the timing is confusing or the path is scary.

   
   

5. Psalm 9:10 – “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” This helps affirm God’s faithfulness in the middle of hard things.

   
   

6. Lamentations 3:22–23 – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed… great is your faithfulness.” This verse speaks into God’s mercy and goodness, even when life feels overwhelming.

   
   

Now, grab your journals and jot these 2 heart-level questions down to wrestle through over the next few days! 

1. If I were Isaac on the altar—bound, confused, scared—what would I want to know about God in that moment? And how does this story help me know I can trust Him, even when I don’t understand?

I want you to REALLY imagine the scene here, like transplant yourself there mentally: 

What would you be thinking? 

Would you ask “Why me?” 

Would you try to escape? 

Would you look into your dad’s eyes and try to read what was happening?

Now, reflect on how the outcome of this story demonstrates who God really is: not cruel, but provider, rescuer, and promise-keeper.

2. What’s something in my life right now that feels scary to trust God with? Am I willing to lay it on the altar and believe that God sees me, loves me, and will provide what I need?

This gets super real. Maybe it’s your body image, friendships, anxiety, comparison, or even something you’re embarrassed to talk about. I want to give you space to be honest—maybe even write it in a secret spot in your journal.

Now, I want you to pray about this diligently for the next 7-days - over the next week. Trust God with this. Pray about it and donʼt stop praying. Next week, letʼs unpack this all and see where you landed after your 7-faithful days of prayer! 

And finally, I want to leave you with a fun extra little idea … I want to invite you to draw or decorate your own altar.

So find a blank page in your journal and write on it what youʼre trying to surrender or trust God with in this current season of your life.

Then write “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) over the top.

And remind yourself of that truth every single day. 

Never forget, if you ever feel like you’re walking up a mountain, confused, scared, and unsure of what God is doing—remember Isaac.

And remember - God who provided the ram.

He sees you. He’s not late. He is working, sis. I promise! 

Alright, yʼall, as badly as I want to keep this convo going for today, I am realizing that it is just SO STINKING hard to keep this Q&Aʼs under 15 - 20 minute podcast episodes.

You guys are all asking such insanely good questions, I just canʼt do it justice right now, spend the time needed to answer 3 questions every episode.

So today, I am going to leave you with only 2, BUT, do not miss next weekʼs episode where I promise to tackle 3 of you burning questions including Ericaʼs question about the power of choice and how we are different knowing that God chose us, how to embrace a promise from God, and how discontentment can truly lead us down a very dark and narrow path. This is not an episode you will want to miss!

As always, thanks for joining me today babe. I sincerely have so much fun spending this time with you!

Donʼt forget to submit your questions and until next time, Go and make disciples! See you next time!