These Stones Episode 4 “Secret Shame” Study Guide
These Stones Episode 4 “Secret Shame” Study Guide
This week’s episode explores themes of self-love, guilt, abstinence and the power of redemption.
Episode Summary
In this week’s episode of These Stones, Katie, a talented singer-songwriter, reveals her struggle with self-harm to Rahab, who has gone undercover as her school guidance counselor.
Katie (played by Katherine Shepler) confides in Rahab that she feels deep shame about her sexual experiences with her boyfriend, Vince. This guilt has led her to self-harm as a way to punish herself. Rahab, drawing from her own experiences of sin, empathizes with Katie’s pain.
In the bible, Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute who faced societal judgment and guilt. Despite her past, Rahab found peace through her faith in God. Rahab encourages Katie to be honest about her feelings, emphasizing that emotional scars can be just as deep as physical ones. She shares her story of a promiscuous past and how she was rescued by God’s grace. Together, they explore the idea of a fresh start and the possibility of forgiveness. Rahab assures Katie that God’s salvation is available to everyone, regardless of past actions.
The episode culminates in a powerful moment of confession and transformation. Katie, inspired by Rahab’s story and the message of God’s forgiveness, begins to heal. Through her struggle, she comes to understand that faith is not just a distant promise, but a powerful source of renewal and hope. No matter how deeply she felt bound by her past, Rahab’s story reminds her that God’s mercy and healing are always available to those who seek it. She begins to realize that the power to choose a new path has been within her all along. Through faith, she is not defined by her mistakes, but by the courage to move forward, embrace forgiveness, and find peace
By being honest with Rahab, McKenna, and eventually her mother, Katie takes the first steps towards healing. Her song becomes a powerful expression of her journey, a life-changing confession that sets her free from the burdens of the past:
Paintings on pain I thought was gone
Have to come down
Before I can see You
I want to see You
So when I realize I am lost
I look at Your arms stretched out on the cross
And all these graffiti covered walls
Won’t keep me hiding anymore
Each day I’ll see what I have drawn
And heal from the pain until it’s gone.
Humble Pie à la These Stones
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Rahab and Katie’s stories demonstrate that true healing begins with vulnerability. While it may be tempting to avoid confronting our painful pasts, confessing everything to God offers genuine relief. By acknowledging our weaknesses and seeking His grace, we can embark on a journey of transformation and find the peace that comes from forgiveness.
Steal away for some humble pie with our Courier Rahab. Rahab admits that she has past shame over things she let men do when she was a prostitute. We see in the way she relates to Katie that she feels completely forgiven and covered by grace. Have you asked for forgiveness for things that you have a hard time letting go of? What can you learn from Rahab’s response to being covered by grace?
If you’re curious to discover even more insights and discussion prompts related to These Stones, check out the show’s official devotional book available to purchase on Amazon. Written by the show’s creators, Susan Rohrer & Cheryl McKay, this handbook will provide real-life applications and deeper explore themes presented in the series.
Zoie Taylor is the Streaming Coordinator for UP Faith & Family. She loves all things TV & Film. Her top 3 titles on UPFF are Heartland, Wildfire, and The Engagement Plot. Her favorite Heartland characters are Lisa and Jessica.
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I have spent almost 2 hours weeping, praying, finding restoration.. and healing. It was a shock when I realized that I have been spiritually “cutting” myself for decades. I am 70 years old. This episode shed light on a residue of shame and regret that still lingered deep within me. ..This young woman’s lyrics and beautiful voice lovingly removed the shadow off the portraits I had drawn of myself for decades- “paintings on pain I thought was gone”… I knew He forgave me, but the truth is that I never forgave myself. ..And I “cut” myself off from so much over the years.. but now I know He’s saying it’s time to come out of hiding! Thank you so much for this series, the stories, the writers, actors and the powerful song in this episode. God Bless You All Abundantly Above What You Could Ask or Think. <
Beverly,
What a beautiful testimony of God’s goodness and grace. Thank you for sharing how this episode and Katherine Shepler’s song impacted you. I could listen to it on repeat over and again myself. I hope others are also helped by you sharing this part of your story. God bless.