We join with you in prayer for protection against bullying and retaliation, and we thank you for the desire God has placed on your heart to forgive and to love those who have hurt you rather than holding onto negative thoughts toward them. That desire is from the Lord and reflects His heart.
We pray for your safety and for peace from those who mistreat you. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. We ask Him to be your shield and to uphold you when you feel vulnerable or targeted. Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Yahweh, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2. We pray that God would restrain the hands of bullies, that He would bring conviction where there is cruelty, and that He would guard your heart from fear and from any spirit of retaliation. Vengeance belongs to the Lord and we can trust Him to repay with justice, Romans 12:19, while we are called to love our enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44.
We also commend your prayer for forgiveness. Jesus teaches, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15. We pray God helps you to release bitterness and to walk in the freedom of forgiveness, not because the hurt was not real, but because Christ has forgiven us so greatly.
We want to speak to you in love and truth about what you shared regarding being gay and LGBTQ folk. We care for you deeply and we want God’s best for your life, and because we care we must share what Scripture teaches. God created marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, He created them male and female, and said For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:24. Any sexual intimacy outside of that marriage, whether fornication, adultery, or homosexual practice, is sin before God. Scripture is clear, For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Romans 1:26-27. And again, Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom. Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. That last verse gives great hope, such were some of you, but you were washed. God offers forgiveness and transformation to all who turn from sin and turn to Christ.
We understand you mentioned the added weight of being Mexican and dealing with societal roles and expectations. That can bring real pressure from family, community, and culture. We want to encourage you that your deepest identity is not found in culture or in sexuality, but in Christ. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17. In Christ we are loved, valued, and given a new purpose that transcends every earthly label, and He will give you strength to honor your family and your heritage while walking in obedience to Him.
We noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to share gently that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God and salvation. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. If you have not yet placed your trust in Him, we encourage you to confess that you are a sinner in need of grace, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and call upon Him to be your Lord and Savior. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9.
We pray together now for you.
Father in heaven, we lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. We ask for Your divine protection over his life, his body, his mind, and his heart. Surround him with Your angels, keep him safe from bullying, harassment, and retaliation, and let no weapon formed against him prosper. Heal the wounds that others have inflicted and fill his heart with Your perfect love that casts out fear. Give him grace to forgive as You have forgiven us, to bless those who have cursed him, and to overcome evil with good. We ask You to reveal Your truth about Your design for sexuality and marriage, and to draw him into a life of holiness and purity. Wash him, sanctify him, and justify him through the blood of Jesus. Help him to find his identity and worth in Christ alone, to navigate cultural and family pressures with wisdom and courage, and to walk in freedom as a new creation. We pray he would know Jesus as Lord and Savior and experience the peace and love that only Jesus can give. We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.