Same-Sex Attractions: Now What?: Biblical Answers for Young People Dealing with Unwanted Same-Sex Attractions

By Gary Michaels

If you’re a young Christian dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction, you need guidance from someone who has been in the same predicament.

Gary Michaels, a former missionary and founder of Be Equipped Ministry, shares his own struggles with same-sex attraction in this guide for anyone trying to navigate a road paved with sexual brokenness. Full of practical advice and resouces, the guide answers questions such as:

Can admitting sin lead to freedom and recovery?

Do your attractions and feelings define who you are?

Why doesn’t God answer your prayers to stop unwanted attraction?

Does God really care about your sexuality?

Whether you’ve acted upon your attraction to someone of the same sex or have only thought about it, this book offers hope. The God of the universe loves you and longs to meet with you right where you are. He desires to walk beside you even in the middle of your brokenness.

This book is rooted in Scripture and will bolster your understanding of your identity in Christ, help you find biblical truth, and give you practical guidance in dealing with unwanted attractions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664253131

Gary Michaels

Gary Michaels established Be Equipped Ministry in 2014, which was borne out of his own struggle with same-sex attraction and his desire to help fellow Christians navigate this perplexing and often volatile subject. His years of experience as a middle school and high school teacher help him meet teens where they are at, while at the same time, exhorting them toward godliness in even the most broken aspects of their lives.

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Copyright © 2022 Gary Michaels.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5314-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-5313-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022901744

WestBow Press rev. date: 2/7/2022

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

Christians Can And Do Struggle With Ssa

Having Ssa Is Not A Sin

Your Attractions And Feelings Do Not Define Who You Are

You Are Not Alone

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers To Take This Away?

Does God Really Care About My Sexuality?

Why Do I Deal With Ssa?

Are People Born Gay? Did God Make Me This Way?

What Does The Bible Really Say About Homosexuality?

Journey To Victory / Identity In Christ

What Is A Gay, Celibate Christian?

If I Follow The Bible’s Teaching, Will I Have To Be Celibate For The Rest Of My Life?

How Do I Talk To My Parents About My Struggle With Ssa?

What Do I Do When Others Say Hurtful Things?

How Long Will I Struggle With Ssa?

Is There Hope For Me?

What Are Some Next Steps?

Conclusion

Appendix A More Scriptures That I Found Helpful In My Journey

Appendix B Who God Is

Appendix C

Bibliography

Notes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all, I would like to thank my wife, Judy, for her continued support for this book and my ministry. She has encouraged me and prayed for me for years. She has also played a significant role in my gaining greater victory in my own struggle with same-sex attractions.

Second, I’d like to thank my three kids. You had to leave your home overseas so that I can start this ministry in the States. Your sacrifice, as well as your support and encouragement, means a lot to me.

Thank you to my readers: Holly Goodwin, Noni Voth, Clyde Smith, Connor O’Malley, and Jesse Grimm. Your encouragement, input, and suggestions are greatly appreciated. I hope you will each recognize your part when you read the book.

Thank you to Pastor Mark Vincenti. Our many conversations on this topic over the last few years have been a huge help to me. Thanks for writing the foreword.

Thank you, Natalie Porter, for your chart on our identity in Christ. Your visual is such a great tool in understanding this important truth.

A huge thanks to Alan Halbrooks for being my editor. Your experience in writing, as well as your experience of walking beside young people who struggle with same-sex attractions, are a huge asset to this project.

I would also like to thank everyone at WestBow Press who has helped me with the process of getting this book published.

Most important, I would like to thank the Lord for not giving up on me and for putting people in my life who taught me about my identity in Christ. Thank You for Your promise in Philippians 1:6 to continue the work that You started in me.

FOREWORD

We live in a world filled with various