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.