Confident Affirmation This Advent
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
— Philippians 1:6, NRSVue
In a world that is often unfriendly and sometimes downright hostile toward LGBTQ+ communities, it makes a lot of sense that many of us carry around deep hurts and sorrow from the pain of rejection we’ve experienced. Being told in religious spaces that we are not welcome can leave long-lasting wounds. Being told that God does not affirm or approve of our identities can rattle the strongest of human confidences.
Here at Q Christian Fellowship, we hold to the truth of the message that God unequivocally and unrelentingly loves every one of us. We see this reflected in our scriptures time and time again, and we see it reflected in the community of LGBTQ+ and allied Christians that has grown across the country and the world. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, and God’s love is beautifully echoed through our love for each other.
This second week of Advent, I would like to share some time together dwelling on a piece of good news from scripture. “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6, NRSVue). This confidence from Paul reverberates joyfully throughout the first chapter of Philippians as he shares his love for the Philippian community and his joyful prayers for them.
I think back on my own journey and how important it was for me to have someone confidently affirm me when I was wrestling with my faith and how it initially seemed incompatible with being LGBTQ+. As I went through my personal faith journey and deep study of the so-called “clobber” passages in scripture, I found QCF to be a resource that not only helped me in my study, but lifted me up and encouraged me that God was still doing a good work in me as a person. My story wasn’t over just because I was coming out! In fact, it was just the beginning of a beautiful new chapter with God that taught me the expansiveness of God’s love.
So I want to offer that encouragement today to you as well. I am confident that God has been doing good work in you, whether you are an LGBTQ+ person or as a new or growing ally. I am confident that God will continue to do that good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ. I believe God loves you fully and unconditionally, and God is going to continue blessing your story with new chapters that continue to teach you just how big God’s love is.
What chapter do you sense God is beginning in your life this season?
