Writing My Way Back to Wholeness

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I spent a decade blogging and writing, including freelance content for health and wellness sites—and I loved it. That season even led to the publication of my first book.

Then I took what I thought would be a short break. It turned into ten years. During that time, I returned to work full time as a pharmacist and grew in ways I never expected. But something kept tugging at me.

My love for writing never really left, but I busied myself with other things. I kept noticing, however, how little support exists for Christian women’s health and hormones in both church circles and the wellness world. My conviction grew that Christian women need better conversations about health—conversations rooted in truth, grace, and the gospel, not just trends or pharmaceutical promises.

So I’m writing again. This time, not just as a writer, but as a Christian pharmacist, a woman shaped by hormone storms, and someone who believes that our bodies matter to God.

Turning Points in My Christian Health Journey

Health Insights that Wouldn’t Let Go

While I wasn’t writing, I kept encountering studies that challenged the all-or-nothing mindset I’d absorbed about health—studies showing that even small steps, like walking regularly or losing a few pounds, made a measurable difference. Studies demonstrated that even modest improvements in weight and fitness could have a substantial impact on conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. I wasn’t surprised at the improvement, but I was surprised at the degree of improvement. The all-or-nothing thinking that most of us accepted as fact (which is more about appearance than health, anyway) was turned on its head. 

Other studies¹ came out that demonstrated regular exercise, like going for a walk outside, was significantly helpful for people with mild to moderate depression. I again wasn’t shocked that it helped, but I was surprised just how much. But despite this news—that made headlines in mainstream media at the time—the narrative from the drug companies had more effect on our thinking.

My Christian Journey Through PMS, Perimenopause, and Menopause

I learned when I was a young mom how much PMS could color my outlook on life. Then perimenopause and menopause hit. I am a fairly calm person by nature, but small things would happen and I would find myself incandescent with rage. It was like I was observing myself from the outside thinking, Is this really worth all this fuss? It was horrifying as a Christian, but fascinating as a pharmacist. It reminded me that what happens inside our bodies color our moods and emotions in ways we don’t fully understand.

Why the Church Needs Gentle Conversations About Health and Stewardship

We don’t talk much about sloth or gluttony in church—at least not in a way that feels helpful. And yet, many of us quietly struggle with habits that affect our ability to care for our bodies well.

From chronic over-scheduling to emotional eating, from binge-watching to nutritional neglect, these patterns don’t always look sinful on the surface. But over time, they can wear down our health, sap our energy, and pull us away from the good stewardship God invites us into.

These aren’t easy things to talk about. We tend to swing between harsh judgment and dismissive grace. I still wrestle with that tension. Jesus still loves me on the days I stay on the couch and scroll on my phone. But that doesn’t mean it’s what’s best for me. I would like to find a middle way—the gospel way—that holds both truth and tenderness. 

But most of what we see regarding diet and exercise is about appearance and weight-loss goals. It’s about getting down to your young-adult dress size, not stewarding your health and body well. That ultimately can leave us feeling defeated and deciding our efforts are futile.

A Biblical View of the Body, Health, and the Gospel

The gnosticism the apostles wrote about was the idea that everything in the material world was evil, and that the only thing that mattered was the spiritual world. In biblical times, the pagans used this as justification for sexual promiscuity. It was only the spiritual world that mattered. 

Yes, the Bible does use the language of “the flesh” to refer to our sinful nature, but it does not make the distinction that our bodies don’t matter. Our physical health affects us spiritually—and our spiritual health affects us physically. We cannot divide them, and the Bible doesn’t expect us to. 

All of creation groans for redemption. The curse means that chaos and disorder have entered our bodies. They don’t work the way they should. So illness and disease are part of our fallen state, and no amount of pharmaceuticals (or supplements) are going to deliver us from that. But just like we don’t give up on growing spiritually due to the constant presence of sin, we shouldn’t neglect our bodies, either. 

The way we think about our bodies is not separate from our theology. That’s why I believe Christian women’s health and hormones must be approached with both sound doctrine and biological wisdom. I’m not saying we all need to be a size 6 and out running marathons. But we do need to think of practical, realistic ways to steward our health in a fallen world.

What I’ve Learned as a Christian Pharmacist About Health Misinformation

A Broken System

So much of our health information comes from pharmaceutical companies. I am not anti-pharma. I see pharmaceutical breakthroughs change lives for the better on a regular basis. But the objective of pharmaceutical companies is to make money, and they spend lots of money on marketing and advertising to sell their products. If you don’t know what to listen for, you can mistake theories for facts.

The Two sides of Fear

But the growing mistrust toward “big pharma” has been harmful, as well. I have witnessed people with severe chronic illness turn away from helpful medications. I have also seen a lack of awareness among otherwise compassionate Christians about the burden of chronic health conditions on their fellow believers. 

Some people do have to be cautious about their health—not out of fear, but out of necessity. Chronic illness isn’t always visible, and many sufferers actively resist letting their illness define them. But sometimes their illness forces them to make hard choices that others may not understand.

Why I Write (Again)

We need to find balance in our thinking. Balance between overzealous fitness and apathy. Between asceticism and gnosticism. Between accountability and compassion. We need gospel-centered, scientifically grounded, theologically sound health conversations, not just diet tips or pharma ads.

My pharmacy degree gives me different baseline knowledge, but I also write as a witness. I have experienced the gap between what’s true and what I’ve felt in my own body, and I want to close that gap with sound doctrine, real empathy, and sober hope.

I want this to be a place where women can be informed, encouraged, and strengthened—especially in the area of Christian women’s health and hormones. We need voices that care about the body and soul together, not in competition.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice.

1. Siri Kvam, Catrine Lykkedrang Kleppe, Inger Hilde Nordhus, Anders Hovland, Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis, Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 202, 2016, Pages 67-86, ISSN 0165-0327, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.063. ↩︎

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