I grew up in a fairly progressive school environment and was 15 when gay marriage became legalized, so the concept of being gay was always lingering for me. 

Also, around that time is when I began attending a youth group. Following some trauma in my life, I was searching for answers to life’s biggest questions. The youth group offered that, along with free pizza, so I went. It was there that I accepted Christ as my savior on a swing set behind the church. Sitting on that swing, my heart was moved at how beautifully and intricately he created everything around me, from the forest behind our church to my friends who were laughing together. I was struck by how God cared enough to have me as a part of that spectacular creation. I longed and prayed for God to use me intentionally and for His purpose. 

Within weeks I decided to attend a Christian school and suddenly found myself surrounded by kids of pastors and missionaries, who all somehow could quote both Bible verses and the Veggie Tales with ease. As silly as it may seem, I began to wonder if God really loved me as much as the guy whose parents owned a Chick-Fil-A. This sense of “other than” further exasperated my wrestling with sexuality. 

I began listening to Living Hope’s podcasts but didn’t put much thought into it. I was a teenager, after all, so I reasoned that I had all the time in the world to figure this out later. But through a series of events, I eventually became convicted that even my struggle with same-sex attraction was something the Lord wanted me to submit to him. I’m really grateful I had a place like Living Hope to go to that pointed me to (read the rest of the story here)