Why You Shouldn’t Dread Aging: How to Embrace Aging Gratefully (Even When Your Body Doesn’t Look or Work Like It Used To)

 

Ever catch yourself staring in the mirror, whispering, “Who is this woman, and what is gravity doing to my body?”

I get it.

That was literally me last week, standing in my bathroom, staring at my reflection like I’d walked into the wrong house. My stomach has apparently picked a new shape over the last year or so, and don’t even get me started on my chest… let’s just say the 3-kid adjustment plan is real.

But here’s the thing: if you’re like me (or like the thousands of Christian women I get to talk with each year), you feel that constant pressure to fight every wrinkle, every curve, every “change.” Society screams that aging = disaster… and suddenly, your value feels wrapped up in a size, a shape, or the number of lines on your face.

So let’s flip the script today. Instead of dreading aging, what if we actually learned to age gratefully? To see every wrinkle, every gray hair, every stretch mark as a marker of a life lived—not a problem to solve.

That’s exactly what Heather Creekmore (author of The Burden of Better and host of the Compared to Who? podcast) and I talked about on a recent episode of the Faith-Filled Food Freedom Podcast. And let me tell you, this conversation was fire. 🔥

We went deep on how to stop chasing a 25-year-old body, start aging gratefully, and actually enjoy the process, without shame, without expensive creams, and without selling your soul to anti-aging culture.

So grab your coffee ☕, pull up a chair, and let’s get real about wrinkles, weight, and walking boldly into every chapter of life God’s given you.

Why We Struggle With Aging and Body Image

First, let’s name the struggle.

Aging isn’t just about birthdays and candles. It’s about:

• Wrinkles you swore weren’t there last month
  
  
• Knees that creak when you go up the stairs
  
  
• That “muffin top” situation that didn’t used to exist
  
  
• And yes—the endless ads for anti-aging serums, collagen powders, and “miracle” workouts that prey on our insecurities
  
  

The world sells us this lie: that your worth is directly tied to looking like your 25-year-old self… forever. 🙄 Spoiler alert: that’s not only impossible, it’s exhausting.

Here’s the truth: God never tied your worth to your waistline, your skin’s elasticity, or how “youthful” you look. Scripture actually paints a totally different picture. Proverbs 16:31 says:

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”

So while the culture’s shouting “fight it, fix it, hide it!”—God’s saying, “Daughter, that gray hair? That wrinkle? That scar? It’s part of your crown.” 👑

The Sneaky Way Aging Triggers Body Image Struggles

Here’s where it gets tricky. Many women I work with already wrestle with body image struggles. Aging just… pours salt in the wound.

Because when your body starts to look and function differently, it’s easy to:

• Fall back into body checking (pinching, poking, or staring at your reflection way too long).
  
  
• Obsess about food or exercise in an attempt to “reverse” changes.
  
  
• Dread the thought of beach trips, family photos, or even intimacy with your spouse.
  
  

Sound familiar?

But let’s pause here. Ask yourself:

👉 Is my ultimate goal really to stop my body from aging… or is it to feel loved, accepted, and secure in who I am?

Because the enemy loves to distract us with mirrors and scales, when God’s already given us the security we crave in Him.

Aging Isn’t the Enemy—Diet Culture Is

Can we all just agree on this? Aging is not the enemy.

Diet culture is.

Diet culture is the one telling you that your post-baby belly needs “fixing.” It’s the one whispering that your wrinkles make you less valuable. It’s the one convincing you to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on products that promise you’ll look younger.

But here’s the kicker: You were never meant to stay the same.

Think about it. Everything God created changes and grows. Trees stretch taller. Seasons shift. Babies grow into children, then into adults. If everything else in creation changes, why would we expect our bodies to stay frozen in time?

How to Shift From Dreading Aging to Aging Gratefully

Alright, let’s get practical. How do we actually make this shift? Here are five steps to start aging gratefully, instead of fearfully:

1. Redefine What “Health” Means

Health isn’t a dress size or a wrinkle-free face. It’s energy to play with your kids. It’s strength to serve your family and community. It’s peace of mind knowing you’re fueling your body well.

👉 Ask yourself: Am I chasing health… or chasing youth?

2. Reframe Wrinkles and Gray Hair as Testimonies

Instead of calling them “flaws,” what if you called them testimonies?

• That laugh line? Proof of joy-filled moments.
  
  
• That stretch mark? A reminder of the babies your body carried.
  
  
• That gray streak? A symbol of wisdom earned.
  

Every mark tells a story. And those stories matter.

3. Anchor Yourself in Scripture

When the mirror starts bossing you around, open your Bible.

• Proverbs 31:25 → “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
  
  
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 → “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
  

God’s Word always has the final say—not your mirror.

4. Speak Gratitude Over Your Body

Try this practice: each morning, look in the mirror and thank God for one specific way your body is serving you.

• “Thank you, Lord, for these legs that carry me.”
  
  
• “Thank you for the wrinkles that show how much laughter I’ve shared.”
  
  
• “Thank you for the breath in my lungs today.”
  

Gratitude shifts the focus from what’s “wrong” to what’s right.

5. Build a Christ-Centered Community

You were never meant to do this alone. Surround yourself with women who will remind you that your worth isn’t tied to your looks.

That’s why I created spaces like the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast and our online community, Food Freedom & Body Image Support for Christian Women. Because together, we get to remind each other: we’re already enough in Christ.

When Your Body Doesn’t Work Like It Used To

Let’s be real: aging isn’t just about looks. Sometimes your body literally doesn’t function the same.

• Joints ache.
  
  
• Hormones shift.
  
  
• Recovery from workouts takes longer.
  
  
• Energy isn’t what it used to be.
  
  

And that can be frustrating. But instead of resenting your body, try asking:

👉 How can I honor my body’s current season?

That might look like:

• Swapping high-impact workouts for walking, swimming, or yoga
  
  
• Prioritizing rest (because burnout serves no one)
  
  
• Giving yourself permission to enjoy food without obsessing over every calorie
  
  

Remember: the goal isn’t to push your body back into its 25-year-old mold. The goal is to care for it today, as the temple God entrusted to you.

Scripture’s View of Aging: A Gift, Not a Curse

I know it’s tempting to dread another birthday. But here’s the truth: every single year is a gift.

Psalm 90:12 says:

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

In other words, aging is God’s way of reminding us that time is precious. Every year means more wisdom, more opportunities to love, more impact for the Kingdom.

So instead of saying, “Ugh, I’m getting old,” let’s say, “Thank You, Lord, for another year to know You and make You known.”

Let’s Get Real: You Don’t Have to Love Every Wrinkle

Now, don’t mishear me. This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly throw a party for every gray hair. It’s okay to have moments where you wish things looked or felt different.

The point isn’t to fake joy—it’s to anchor yourself in gratitude and God’s truth, even when it’s hard.

Because the enemy wants you to dread aging. God wants you to delight in living.

Final Encouragement

So friend, here’s the bottom line: Aging isn’t something to fear. It’s something to embrace—with gratitude, with grace, and with God’s truth as your anchor.

Your body may not look or function like it used to. But that doesn’t make you less valuable, less beautiful, or less loved.

In fact, it might just make you more radiant. ✨

Want More on This Topic?

This blog barely scratches the surface of the conversation Heather Creekmore and I had on the Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast. 🎙️

👉 Listen to the full episode here for even deeper encouragement on aging gratefully and overcoming body image struggles through a Christ-centered lens.

And if you’re ready to take the next steps:

• ✅ Join our Food Freedom and Body Image Support for Christian Women —a safe space for Christian women learning to ditch diet culture and embrace freedom.
  
  
• ✅ Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode packed with encouragement, humor, and truth.
  
  

You don’t need a younger body to live a joy-filled, purpose-driven life. You just need to remember who you are in Christ.

Here’s to aging gratefully, wrinkles and all. 💜

 

Cheering you on in grace & freedom,

- Brittany

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD
Registered Dietitian | Faith-Filled Food Freedom podcast host