The Bridge Between Us: Loving Your LGBT Identified Child Without Compromising Biblical Truth

Melinda Patrick
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When your child embraces an LGBTQ identity, it can feel as though the ground beneath your feet has shifted. You love your child deeply. You love Jesus deeply. And now you're asking questions you never expected to face. How do I stay faithful to God's Word while keeping my relationship with my child? What does it really look like to walk in both grace and truth? Is there anyone who truly understands what I'm going through? You are not alone. The Bridge Between Us is a podcast for Christian parents navigating one of the most difficult and deeply personal journeys of their lives. Each week, we offer biblical encouragement, practical wisdom, and honest conversations that help you build lasting relationships with your child while remaining firmly anchored in Scripture. You'll hear from Christian parents who have walked this road, pastors, counselors, ministry leaders, and individuals who once identified as LGBTQ and now share how Christ transformed their lives. Together, we explore how to respond with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering faith in a culture that often tells us we must choose between truth and love. You don't have to compromise your convictions to love your child well. There is a path forward—one marked by grace, truth, hope, and enduring relationship. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, pastor, counselor, or someone walking alongside a family on this journey, you'll find biblical encouragement, practical guidance, and the reminder that you don't have to walk this road alone. Helping Christian families build bridges of love while remaining anchored in God's Word.

  1. 5d ago

    When Guilt Is Driving Your Parenting {Eps 136}

    Guilt is one of the heaviest burdens many Christian parents carry, especially when an adult child makes choices that differ from their values, faith, or hopes for the future. Questions like What did I do wrong?, Could I have prevented this?, or Did I fail as a parent? can quietly shape how we think, pray, and respond. In this episode, Melinda explores the difference between guilt and conviction and how unresolved guilt can influence our parenting in ways we may not even recognize. She discusses why many parents take responsibility for outcomes that were never theirs to control and how guilt can keep us stuck in the past instead of moving forward with wisdom and grace. If you've been carrying regret, second-guessing your parenting decisions, or feeling weighed down by what you wish you had done differently, this conversation will encourage you to experience the freedom God offers and begin parenting from a place of faith rather than guilt. In This Episode Why guilt is so common among Christian parents The difference between guilt and conviction How guilt can keep us trapped in the past Why adult children's choices are not always a reflection of parental success or failure The hidden ways guilt influences communication, boundaries, and decision-making How God's grace applies to parents, too Reflection Questions Take some time to prayerfully reflect on these questions: What parenting regrets do you find yourself revisiting most often? Are those thoughts leading you toward growth or keeping you stuck in shame? Is there a difference between what God is showing you and what guilt keeps accusing you of? How might guilt be influencing your current relationship with your child? What would change if you fully embraced God's grace for yourself? Scripture for Reflection Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Psalm 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Key Takeaway Healthy conviction leads us toward growth and restoration. Guilt keeps us trapped in self-blame and responsibility for things we cannot control. As parents, we can learn from the past without allowing it to define us. God's grace was never intended only for our children—it is available for us as well.   Connect with Melinda: melinda@melindapatrick.org https://melindapatrick.org/   If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with another parent who may be carrying guilt or regret on their parenting journey. Together, we can learn to walk in truth, extend grace to ourselves, and trust God with the parts of the story that remain unfinished. Remember: God has entrusted this journey and your child to you. He will equip you for each next step.

  2. Jul 15

    The Beliefs That Quietly Drive Your Parenting {Eps 135}

    As Christian parents, we often focus on our child's choices, behaviors, and circumstances. But what if some of our strongest emotional reactions are actually being shaped by our own beliefs that we haven't fully recognized? In this episode, Melinda explores the hidden beliefs that quietly influence how we parent our children—especially when we're navigating difficult situations involving faith, identity, relationships, or life choices we didn't expect. Many parents carry beliefs such as: "If my child is struggling, I must have failed." "It's my responsibility to fix this." "If I pray harder or say the right thing, I can change the outcome." "A good parent wouldn't be in this situation." While these beliefs often come from a place of love, they can also create fear, guilt, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Join Melinda as she helps you identify what may be driving your parenting responses beneath the surface and discover how awareness can become the first step toward greater wisdom, peace, and freedom. In This Episode Why our beliefs often influence our parenting more than we realize Common hidden beliefs Christian parents carry The difference between responsibility and control How fear can become an unintended parenting strategy Why identifying unhealthy beliefs is essential for walking wisely A simple reflection exercise to help uncover what's operating beneath the surface Reflection Questions Take a few moments to prayerfully consider: What is your greatest concern about your adult child right now? What belief might be underneath that concern? Are you carrying responsibility for something that belongs to your child? Are you carrying responsibility for something that belongs to God? What would change if you released that burden? Scripture for Reflection Proverbs 3:5–6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Key Takeaway Many parents are carrying burdens they were never meant to carry. Wisdom begins when we honestly examine the beliefs shaping our thoughts, emotions, and decisions and allow God to replace fear-driven beliefs with truth. Connect with Melinda Melinda@melindapatrick.org https://melindapatrick.org/ If this episode encouraged you, share it with another parent who may need hope and perspective on their journey. You don't have to navigate this season alone. Remember: God has entrusted this journey and your child to you. As you engage with Him, He will equip you for each next step.

  3. Jul 2

    Justin Greenfield: Healing the Root, Not Just the Symptoms - Part Two {Eps 134}

    Many parents walking the difficult journey with an LGBT-identified child feel burdened by guilt, shame, regret, confusion, or fear. Some are estranged from their children. Others are trying to navigate relationships filled with tension and uncertainty. Most people focus on symptoms while ignoring the deeper issues beneath them. Whether it's same-sex attraction, family conflict, shame, anger, addiction, or relational brokenness, lasting change cannot happen if root causes remain untouched. As Justin explains, cutting weeds isn't enough. If the root remains, the problem continues to grow back.   In this powerful TBBU episode, Justin Greenfield brings both personal experience and ministry insight to this conversation. Having walked his own healing journey, Justin offers compassionate guidance to parents and individuals alike. He emphasizes the importance of identifying lies, wounds, unhealthy attachments, shame, and other root issues that often influence behavior. Melinda joins the conversation as a parent who understands the pain and complexity of this journey and encourages parents to pursue their own healing alongside their children.   Justin offers three key encouragements for parents: 1. Accept God's Grace 2. Give Your Child to God 3. Pursue Your Own Healing Journey   The healing journey isn't only for your child. God is inviting parents into deeper intimacy, freedom, and restoration as well. As parents heal, they become a source of hope and strength for others walking similar paths.   The Call to Action Ask God to reveal the root issues beneath the surface. Rather than focusing solely on changing behavior, invite Him to uncover: Unhealed wounds False beliefs Shame Unforgiveness Fear Family patterns Areas needing deeper surrender Then seek wise, trusted people who can help you walk through the healing process with biblical truth and practical wisdom.   When individuals and families embrace God's healing process: Shame loses its power. Relationships can be restored. Parents become healthier and stronger. Children encounter a different family dynamic. The church becomes equipped to minister with both truth and grace. Freedom and transformation become possible.   Resources Mentioned Justin Greenfield's Christian Post op-ed Connect with Justin Greenfield Restored Hope Network Gretchen Stockman's TBBU Episode Melinda Patrick's book: The Daring Rescue Melinda Patrick Ministries

  4. Jun 22

    Justin Greenfield: Running From Masculinity While Longing For It At the Same Time - Part One {Eps 133}

    Justin Greenfield is joining Melinda Patrick on The Bridge Between Us Podcast.   In Part One, Justin shares a portion of his testimony.    If you would like to understand the root issues of homosexuality, hear a few testimonies of those who now live a life beyond homosexuality through Christ and wisdom, or connect with healthy resources that address homosexuality check out godloveshomosexuals.com    If you're seeking spiritual direction, ministry consultation, would like to discuss a speaking engagement with Justin Greenfield, or would like to hear more about and support his ministry work go to greenfieldministries.com    Also, here are a couple to the study led by Vanderbilt University researchers on the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of homosexual individuals which Justin mentioned on the podcast:    Synopsis from Vanderbilt https://www.vumc.org/health-policy/LGBTQ-mental-health-adverse-childhood-experiences-research   Full Article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2789482 (Note that the synopsis does not include the ACE that I mentioned on the show - incarcerated household member. It is only in the full article.)

  5. May 28

    Staying Anchored In Jesus During Pride Month {Eps 132}

    June can feel especially heavy for Christian parents navigating the complexities of loving a child who identifies as LGBTQ while also holding to biblical convictions. In this episode, Melinda Patrick offers compassionate encouragement for parents who feel caught between truth and relationship, conviction and compassion, grief and hope. This conversation is not about fear, outrage, or culture wars. It is about staying anchored in Jesus — emotionally, spiritually, and relationally — while walking a difficult parenting journey with humility, wisdom, and faithfulness. Melinda reminds parents that culture should never disciple our emotions more than Christ disciples our hearts. You will learn 7 ways to stay anchored:  Don't panic. Stay in prayer instead of control. Keep relationship where possible. Stay rooted in Scripture. Watch your tone. Allow yourself to grieve honestly. Remember God loves your child more than you can imagine. Mentioned in This Episode Piercing the Night by Lindsey Kiser Charles Spurgeon Dutch Sheets Still Faithful mini-series Episode 117 of The Bridge Between Us Encouragement for Parents As Pride Month unfolds: stay close to Jesus stay rooted in Scripture stay humble stay faithful The Gospel is still powerful. The Holy Spirit still moves. And Jesus is still drawing people to Himself. You are not alone in this journey. Keep abiding. Keep trusting. Keep re-presenting Jesus. Resources & Next Steps Listen to previous testimonies on The Bridge Between Us Begin the Still Faithful mini-series starting with Episode 117 Subscribe to Melinda's newsletter for ongoing encouragement and equipping Stay tuned for the upcoming mini-series: Walking Wisely, beginning July 1 Restored Hope Network annual HOPE conference - June 12-13 - Colorado Springs, CO

  6. May 13

    Still Faithful - New Life Can Still Come From This {Eps 131}

    After months of walking through grief, surrender, shame, boundaries, courage, renewal, and unresolved pain, we come to one final question in the Still Faithful series: Can new life still come from this? In this closing episode, we talk about hope — not the kind that demands immediate answers or guaranteed outcomes, but the kind that trusts God is still present and still capable of bringing life, even in difficult and unfinished stories. This conversation is for the parent who feels weary, uncertain, or afraid to hope again. It is a reminder that redemption does not erase pain, and that God often brings restoration in quieter and deeper ways than we expect. As this series comes to a close, we also begin looking ahead toward what it means to walk wisely through ongoing relationships, emotions, and decisions with greater steadiness and discernment. In this episode, we explore: • Why painful parenting seasons can make hope feel fragile • God's pattern of bringing life from places that feel barren • Why redemption does not minimize or erase grief • What "new life" may actually look like in unresolved stories • Learning to entrust both wounds and hope to God • How healing often begins in the parent, not just the circumstances • Transitioning from survival into wisdom and grounded living Reflection Questions • Where do I long to believe that new life is possible? • What might resurrection look like in my story — even in small ways? • What am I willing to entrust to God again? A Gentle Reminder Healing is not only about what happens around us. Sometimes healing begins in how we stand: Steadier. Softer. Wiser. More grounded in God. Looking Ahead In the upcoming Walking Wisely series, we'll begin exploring: • How to discern God's voice when emotions are loud • How fear and guilt shape parenting decisions • Emotional steadiness in difficult relationships • Grounded, faith-filled decision-making • Learning to move forward wisely in unresolved situations Because faithfulness is not only about surviving hard seasons. It is also about learning how to live wisely inside them. Support If you're realizing you want help living this out in real life — not just listening to it — coaching is available to support you as you discern your next faithful steps with greater clarity, steadiness, and wisdom. You can learn more at www.melindapatrick.org For more information on Restored Hope Network's HOPE 2026 Conference: HOPE

  7. May 8

    Still Faithful on Mother's Day: Hope for the Mom Carrying More Than She Says {Eps 130}

    Mother's Day can be beautiful — but for many mothers walking difficult parenting journeys, it can also feel deeply tender. While others are celebrating, many moms are quietly carrying grief, estrangement, worry, disappointment, exhaustion, or unanswered prayers connected to their children. In this special Mother's Day episode of the Still Faithful series, we talk honestly about the emotional weight many mothers carry and the hope God offers in the middle of unfinished stories. This conversation is a gentle reminder that painful seasons do not make you a failure — and that your motherhood is not defined only by what is hard. If this day feels complicated for you, you are not alone. In this episode, we explore: • Why Mother's Day can stir grief and emotional pain • The invisible weight many mothers quietly carry • A different kind of hope for unresolved stories • Gentle reminders for mothers who feel weary or discouraged • Why your child's choices are not the full measure of your motherhood • God's care for the mother who has been carrying so much Reflection Questions • Where have I been carrying more than I was meant to carry alone? • What would compassion toward myself look like today? • What has God sustained me through that I haven't stopped to acknowledge? • Where might God be inviting me to receive His care again? A Gentle Reminder You are allowed to grieve what is hard. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to experience joy. And your child's story is not the full measure of your motherhood.   Connect with Melinda: melinda@melindapatrick.org Related previous episodes: Gretchen Stockman: Help For The Parent Who Is Estranged Episode 27: Hope and Encouragement For All Moms   For more information on the HOPE 2026 Restored Hope Network Conference:  HOPE 2026

  8. Mar 30

    Still Faithful: What Faith Looks Like Moving Forward {Eps 129}

    After walking through pain, courage, renewal, and joy, many parents find themselves asking a new question: What does faith look like now? Not before the hardship. Not once everything is resolved. But here — in the middle of an unfinished story. In this episode of the Still Faithful series, we explore what it means to live out your faith in real, daily ways when life still feels uncertain. This conversation reframes faith as something active and present — not something we pause until circumstances improve. If you've been waiting for clarity before moving forward, this episode will gently remind you that faith is not about waiting for resolution, but about how you live and walk with God in the in-between.   In this episode, we explore: • Why faith is not just waiting, but a way of living • What it means to walk with God in the middle of uncertainty • How faith matures in the in-between, not after resolution • The difference between faith that deepens and faith that hardens • What everyday, lived-out faith can look like in this season   Reflection Questions: • How has my faith changed through this season? • What practices help me stay anchored now? • What kind of believer am I becoming?   A gentle reminder: Faith is not something you pause until life improves. It is something you live inside the uncertainty.   Support: For many parents, this is the point where something begins to shift. You may find yourself wanting to move from simply understanding these truths to actually living them out with clarity and consistency. Coaching offers a space to process what God is doing in your life, discern your next faithful steps, and stay grounded as you continue forward. You can learn more at www.melindapatrick.org Connect with Melinda: melinda@melindapatrick.org For more information on Hope 2026 at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs: www.restoredhopenetwork.org

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When your child embraces an LGBTQ identity, it can feel as though the ground beneath your feet has shifted. You love your child deeply. You love Jesus deeply. And now you're asking questions you never expected to face. How do I stay faithful to God's Word while keeping my relationship with my child? What does it really look like to walk in both grace and truth? Is there anyone who truly understands what I'm going through? You are not alone. The Bridge Between Us is a podcast for Christian parents navigating one of the most difficult and deeply personal journeys of their lives. Each week, we offer biblical encouragement, practical wisdom, and honest conversations that help you build lasting relationships with your child while remaining firmly anchored in Scripture. You'll hear from Christian parents who have walked this road, pastors, counselors, ministry leaders, and individuals who once identified as LGBTQ and now share how Christ transformed their lives. Together, we explore how to respond with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering faith in a culture that often tells us we must choose between truth and love. You don't have to compromise your convictions to love your child well. There is a path forward—one marked by grace, truth, hope, and enduring relationship. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, pastor, counselor, or someone walking alongside a family on this journey, you'll find biblical encouragement, practical guidance, and the reminder that you don't have to walk this road alone. Helping Christian families build bridges of love while remaining anchored in God's Word.

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