Elizabeth Smart says bodybuilding has helped her reclaim confidence in her body after 2002 kidnapping and sexual assault
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Scriptural Outlook
Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted from her Salt Lake City home at age 14 in 2002 and held for nine months, says that competitive bodybuilding has helped her reclaim confidence in her body. Now 38, Smart describes long-term effects of the captivity and repeated sexual assault, including shame rooted in her conservative upbringing, and explains in her new book that she has reframed trauma as a "detour." She began strength training about 18 months ago, competes in women’s bodybuilding events, and trains five to six days a week. The article summarizes expert commentary on trauma and the body: some survivors disconnect from their bodies to cope, while physical training like resistance exercise can, for some, reduce PTSD symptoms and increase a sense of control and safety. The piece notes both research supporting benefits of resistance training for some trauma survivors and cautions from clinicians that exercise can be maladaptive if used to avoid emotions. Smart continues advocacy for women and victims of sexual violence and is considering another competition that recognizes trauma survivors.
This story aligns with observable truths: survivors vary widely in how they heal, and embodied practices like strength training can be restorative for many. The article's emphasis on empowerment, reclaiming dignity, and public advocacy speaks to a worldview that values resilience, bodily agency, and testimony as a catalyst for broader awareness. From a Christian perspective, several biblical truths are relevant: the body is not merely a problem to be ashamed of but a good creation through which God works (we are called to honor our bodies and one another). The narrative rightly lifts the dignity of a survivor who refuses to be defined only by victimhood, and it models advocacy for others harmed by sexual violence. At the same time, there are subtle media tendencies to privilege a neat "triumph" arc—celebrating visible recovery—while underemphasizing ongoing needs for justice, pastoral care, community support, and systemic prevention. Christians should welcome stories of healing while resisting two errors: (1) minimizing the depth and duration of trauma by treating recovery as a completed achievement; and (2) turning bodily transformation into an idol or sole yardstick of worth. A balanced Christian response affirms survivors’ dignity, supports healthy means of embodied healing, seeks justice and communal care, and points sufferers toward Christ as the ultimate healer of soul and body."Psalm 147:3 — "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.""