Biblically parenting a child who struggles in their sexuality requires resting on a bedrock foundation of truth while always operating in a spirit of love, humility, and surrender to Christ. We must never deny God’s truth, but a child struggling in this area must first be completely secure in their parents’ unconditional love. Focusing on the relationship is paramount. That relationship is secured by practicing unconditional love, the same love that God gives to us. 
 
What can parents do to build a strong relationship with a child struggling in their sexuality? Incorporate this guidance:

• Commend your child’s courage for sharing their struggle with you.
• Express your unconditional love for your child. Say, “There is nothing you can think, say, or do that will change my love for you. I love you unconditionally, and so does God.”
• Pray fervently. Use the Word of God to pray over your child daily.
• Listen. Listen. Listen. And when you’re done listening to your child.… listen some more.
• Humbly hold fast to Biblical truth.
• Speak truth when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Don’t turn every conversation into a sermon. Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your communication.
• Walk in HUMILITY. The LGBTQ community has adopted PRIDE as their virtue, so we must walk in the opposite spirit, which is humility.
• Model a surrendered life for your child. 
• Model repentance for your child. You won’t parent your child perfectly, so when you mess up, tell them you are wrong and ask for forgiveness. 
• Forgive yourself for your parenting mistakes and allow God to redeem them.

 
My  guest in episode 79 of  CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD has been ministering to parents of children in the LGBTQ community for many years because she is one. Host of The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child While Not Compromising Truth, Melinda Patrick is a mother of a same-sex attracted daughter who has embraced an LGBTQ identity and union. Melinda shares the successes and failures of her parenting journey, and her advice will bless, encourage, and convict us all.  

This poignant clip of Melinda sharing her greatest regret left me in tears:
 

Please join Melinda and me as we discuss how to love the people in your life who are struggling in their sexuality. You can listen to CP/CW on Life Audio by clicking on the image below:

Or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts. And please consider giving CPCW a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. That would make my day! 

Other episodes in this series:

EPISODE 78: Should a Christian Identity as Gay or Trans?

EPISODE 77: An LGBTQ Mom Responds to Andy Stanley

RESOURCES MENTIONED/REFERENCED:

Melinda Patrick’s Website

Melinda Patrick’s email address: melinda@melindapatrick.org

Melinda Patrick’s Instagram Page

The Bridge Between Us Podcast: Loving Your LGBTQ Identified Child Well While Not Compromising Truth

His Wonderful Works: Hope Healing and Freedom

Catherine Segars email address: catherine@catherinesegars.com

Debbie Causey’s Website  & Speaker bio

Renovus website

Greg & Lynn McDonald: Embracing the Journey

The Unconditional Conference

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED:

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Matthew 11:28-30

John 8:31