Holy but Heated: Too Spicy for the Group Chat; Too Real to Ignore | How to Stop Hating Your Body: When the Mirror Lies and God Speaks Truth

Hey friends, before we dive in—quick thing! You guys, this podcast takes a LOT to keep running. Website, email subscriptions, hosting… all those little things that make this show show up in your earbuds? They all cost money. And I want this podcast to stay free for teen girls everywhere—forever.

So, if you feel led, even $20 a month goes a super long way—like, it literally covers one month of hosting. Totally tax-deductible, so talk to your mom or dad about it. It could even be part of their tithes or offerings. Seriously, every bit helps. And if you do decide to support, thank you. You’re helping keep this conversation going for girls just like you.

Okay, now let’s get real.

I want you to do something with me. Grab your phone or look in the mirror—don’t freak out, just do it. Look at yourself. Maybe it’s the morning, maybe it’s after school, maybe it’s right before bed. And whatever you see… maybe you cringe. Maybe you poke at your stomach, check your arms, sigh at your legs. Maybe you scroll Instagram and compare yourself to girls who seem perfect. You know the ones—the ones who have the hair, the skin, the style, the likes, the confidence… and you just… don’t.

Here’s the truth. I see you. I’ve been there. And so have literally millions of teen girls. Puberty is raging, hormones are wild, your body is changing in ways that feel unfair and out of control. And you know what? That feeling? It’s real—but it is not the final word about you, your body, or your worth.

This episode is for the girls who look in the mirror and hate their reflection, who feel like God’s promise about their body being a temple is some annoying Instagram quote that doesn’t actually make them feel better. We’re going to strip this down. No fluff. No cheesy slogans. Just truth straight from the Bible and real, practical ways to love and honor your body—even when it feels far from perfect.

For anyone new here, I’m Kaase Levell, your host for Holy but Heated: Too Spicy for the Group Chat; Too Real to Ignore. This is Episode 4 of our series, and today we’re getting really raw about our bodies. I promise this isn’t going to be a preachy “fearfully and wonderfully made” speech—if that annoys you, good, because we’re going deeper than that.

We’re talking about what it actually feels like to be in the thick of puberty, struggling with your changing body, comparing yourself to everyone around you, and trying to figure out what it actually means to honor God with your body.

1️⃣ The Reality Check – What’s Actually Happening

First, let’s break down what’s going on. Puberty is messy. Your body is changing whether you like it or not. Hormones are firing like crazy, fat distribution shifts, muscles grow, curves show up—or disappear. Skin changes, hair changes, everything feels like it’s doing its own thing. And social media doesn’t make it any better. You see girls your age with flawless hair, perfect outfits, and millions of likes—and your brain goes, “What’s wrong with me?”

Spoiler: Nothing. Nothing is wrong with you. Your body is in a season of massive change, and this is not just physical—it’s emotional, too. Feeling insecure is normal. Feeling like you hate your body sometimes? Normal. But normal doesn’t mean it’s the truth about your worth.

2️⃣ The Bible Truth – Temple Talk

Here’s where the scripture hits HARD. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Yes, even the thighs you think are “too big” or the skin that breaks out, or the arms that feel awkward. The Spirit lives in every inch of you, and that’s reason enough to honor it. Temple = sacred. You = sacred.

And let’s go deeper because I know sometimes those verses feel soft or distant. Here’s more scripture straight-up about your beauty, value, and strength—not some Instagram quote fluff.

1️⃣ You are God’s masterpiece, not an accident

Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”You are literally crafted by God, not random or accidental. Your body is the tool He made for your mission, your life, your story. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be valuable—it’s made for you, for His plans.

2️⃣ Your worth isn’t in appearance

1 Samuel 16:7: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”So when you look in the mirror and focus on the things you don’t like, God’s looking at the real you—your heart, your courage, your faith. Your mirror doesn’t get the full story; God sees the masterpiece.

3️⃣ God sees His Spirit in you

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… Therefore honor God with your bodies.”Even the parts you dislike, the Spirit lives there. You are sacred.

4️⃣ God delights in your beauty—even what you call flaws

Psalm 45:11: “The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.”God notices beauty where we often miss it. Those “flaws” you see? They’re part of the you He loves and uses.

5️⃣ Confidence comes from God, not comparison

Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”Strength and dignity aren’t about your jeans size or hair texture—they’re about how God built you from the inside out. When you live in that, comparison loses power.

6️⃣ You are radiant, not broken

Song of Solomon 4:7: “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.”Even when you hate your reflection, He sees perfection in your purpose, your design, your spirit.

How to Apply It Right Now

• Pick two of these verses and write them on sticky notes or in your phone. Put them where you can see them when your mirror triggers shame.

  
  

• Read them aloud. Let God’s perspective fight the lies the mirror or social media whispers.

  
  

• When you start hating your body, remind yourself: “God sees me fully. I am sacred, I am strong, I am made for His purpose.”

3️⃣ Why We Hate Our Bodies

Let’s get honest about what makes it worse:

• Comparison culture. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube—they all scream, “This is perfect. You’re not.” And your brain believes it.

• Hormones + mood swings. Puberty literally wires your brain to feel everything bigger, faster, stronger.

• Messages from people you trust. Sometimes even Christians unintentionally say things that make girls feel guilty about their looks or bodies.

All of this together? It’s like a pressure cooker for body hate. And I get it. I see it. I feel it. But here’s the thing: you are not broken, you are not unlovable, and your body is still a temple.

4️⃣ How to Actually Honor Your Body Right Now

I want to give you something tangible:

• Move for YOU. Not to change your thighs, not to shrink your stomach, not to impress anyone. Dance, run, stretch, or do whatever makes your body feel alive. Thank it for letting you move.

• Feed it with love. Nourish it, hydrate it. Not punishment, not extremes.

• Celebrate the little wins. Maybe your legs are strong enough to climb stairs, your hands can create art, your voice can sing, your arms can hug. Focus on what your body does, not what it looks like.

• Speak Scripture over it. Literally say: “God, You made me. You live in me. I am Yours. My body matters because You do.” Out loud, even if you roll your eyes.

Interactive Moment: Grab a piece of paper or your phone. Write three things your body does for you that you’re grateful for. Not what it looks like—what it does. Hold on to that. Keep it somewhere visible. I promise, even on the days you hate your reflection, that list is a little life raft of truth.

5️⃣ Real TalkYour body is messy, hormones are wild, and social media is loud. And that’s okay. God didn’t call you to be perfect; He called you to be present, be alive, and honor Him with what you’ve been given. Your worth is not in the mirror. It’s not in the scale. It’s in the fact that you are His temple, His daughter, His masterpiece in progress.

So here’s the challenge: stop hating, start honoring. Look at your body and thank it for the things it does for you. Speak truth over it. Protect it from shame and comparison. And remember, you’re not alone. Literally millions of girls feel this way, and God’s Spirit is inside you, cheering for you, even when you can’t cheer for yourself.

If you take anything from this episode, take this: your body is not the problem. Your perspective sometimes is. Shift that, and you’ll start seeing the temple God made in you.

And I’ll leave you with one last verse to carry with you: Psalm 139:14—“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

So here’s the truth, and I want you to feel this deep in your bones: your body is not the enemy. Every curve, every freckle, every inch that you’ve been tempted to hate—God designed it, God inhabits it, and God calls it holy.