Rediscovering God’s love has been a transformative journey, one that has helped me heal from wounds both external and internal. For years, I struggled with the idea that God’s love was conditional—based on whether I fit a specific mold or adhered to certain expectations. I feared that being true to myself as a transgender person would disqualify me from the love and grace I had been taught to believe in.
But over time, through prayer, reflection, and an open heart, I began to understand that God’s love is not limited by our human understanding of identity or gender. His love is vast, encompassing, and unchanging. I’ve come to realize that the invitation to experience God’s love is not based on who we are, but on who God is: a God of boundless love, grace, and acceptance.
The Bible is filled with reminders that God’s love transcends our understanding and our limitations. One of the key verses that has resonated deeply with me is Romans 8:38-39:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This verse speaks to the unwavering nature of God’s love. There is nothing—not our struggles, not our identities, and not the challenges we face—can separate us from His love. This verse was pivotal in helping me understand that my gender identity does not define my worth in God’s eyes. God’s love is constant, regardless of our differences. It was a reminder that being transgender or part of the LGBTQ+ community doesn’t make me any less worthy of God’s love than anyone else. God loves all of us, no exceptions.
Another verse that deeply impacted my journey is 1 John 4:16, which says:
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them.”
This verse helped me understand that God’s very essence is love. It’s not that God simply loves us; He is love. To embrace God is to embrace love itself. As I’ve allowed myself to embrace my true identity, I’ve felt that divine love manifest in my life in new and profound ways. I realized that to deny myself was to deny the love that God has inherently given me. Whether I am LGBTQ+ or cisgender, God’s love abides in all of us.
John 13:34-35 also speaks to the kind of love we are called to share with others, emphasizing that love is the foundation of our faith:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
In rediscovering God’s love for me, I’ve come to see that this love extends beyond just personal acceptance—it’s also about how we treat and love others. As I learned to accept myself fully, I realized the importance of extending that same love and acceptance to others. This is the love Christ exemplified: radical, unconditional, and inclusive. The kind of love that welcomes us all—transgender, LGBTQ+, and anyone who has ever felt excluded by society or the church.
Finally, I turn to Ephesians 3:17-19, where Paul prays for believers to experience the depth of God’s love:
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
This passage invites us to fully experience God’s love—love that is beyond human comprehension. It has no boundaries, no limitations, no “otherness.” It fills every part of us, inviting us into deeper connection and understanding. As I’ve embraced this love, I’ve felt my heart expand, allowing me to accept myself and others more fully. I’ve come to believe that no one, including those of us who are LGBTQ+ or transgender, is excluded from this deep, surpassing love of Christ.
Embracing God’s Love as My True Self
Rediscovering God’s love means accepting that it is not based on my conformity to a specific image or mold. God’s love is not conditional on my gender or my journey. I am loved for who I am in all my complexity, and I am worthy of that love.
As an LGBTQ+ person, and specifically as a transgender individual, I’ve learned that my identity is a beautiful part of who I am and reflects God’s unique creation. I don’t have to hide parts of myself to receive God’s love. God loves me fully and completely, and that love empowers me to embrace myself as He made me.
In learning to accept God’s love fully, I’ve found the courage to live authentically and confidently as the person He created me to be. And in that process, I’ve found healing—not just for myself, but also in the way I love and interact with others. Love, I’ve learned, is not a barrier to being fully myself—it’s the gateway to truly understanding who I am in God’s eyes.
No matter where you are in your faith journey, no matter the struggles you’ve faced or the voices of exclusion you’ve heard, remember that God’s love is for you. His love is endless, and it’s always been there. You don’t have to change to earn it—simply be open to receiving it as you are. Whether you’re LGBTQ+, transgender, or anyone struggling to understand your place in God’s kingdom, His love is a place where you belong.
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