5 Self-Care Practices for Queer Christians Navigating Faith
Navigating faith as a queer Christian can be both beautiful and challenging. Here are five self-care practices to help you honor both your identity and your spirituality:
1. Create a Safe Spiritual Space
• Engage with affirming theology through books, podcasts, and sermons from queer-friendly Christian leaders.
• If traditional church spaces feel harmful, explore online or local affirming faith communities.
• Develop a personal spiritual practice (prayer, meditation, journaling) that nurtures your faith without pressure.
2. Set Boundaries with Non-Affirming People
• Protect your mental and emotional well-being by limiting engagement with people who make you feel unworthy.
• Practice assertive responses for difficult conversations. (“I respect your beliefs, but I need you to respect mine.”)
• Give yourself permission to walk away from spaces that harm your spirit.
3. Connect with Other Queer Christians
• Join support groups or social media communities where you can share experiences and encouragement.
• Find a spiritual mentor or therapist who understands the intersection of faith and queerness.
• Attend affirming retreats or conferences for deeper connection and healing.
4. Reclaim Your Faith on Your Terms
• Read scripture with a lens of love and liberation, focusing on passages that affirm God’s unconditional love.
• Deconstruct harmful teachings and embrace a theology that aligns with your truth.
• Remember that your faith is valid, and you don’t need to prove your worth to anyone—including religious institutions.
5. Engage in Restorative Self-Care
• Prioritize activities that bring you joy and peace—music, nature, art, or movement.
• Develop mindfulness practices that help ground you in love and acceptance.
• Give yourself grace as you navigate the complexities of faith and identity—there is no “right” way to do this.
For me and many LGBTQ+ Christians, self-care can be an act of spiritual resistance. When you’ve been told for years that you have to earn love or acceptance, choosing to care for yourself is a quiet but powerful way of reclaiming your worth. It’s a reminder that you are not only enough—you are sacred. So take the nap, go for a walk, laugh with friends, and remember: you don’t need to justify your existence. You are loved, you are whole, and you deserve to feel at home in your own skin.
Caring for yourself as an LGBTQ + Christian isn’t just about surviving—it’s about reclaiming the sacredness of your life. Many of us have been taught that God’s love or the love of our family depends on how well we fit into certain expectations. But the truth is, you were created whole and beloved exactly as you are. Every time you choose to care for yourself—whether that’s saying “no” to a draining commitment or surrounding yourself with people who truly see you—you are pushing back against the lie that you need to be different to be worthy of love. Self-care is not just about rest; it’s about healing the deeper wound of feeling unlovable.
t’s also important to remember that self-care doesn’t mean doing it all alone. Resistance is often found in community—in queer friendships, affirming spiritual spaces, and quiet moments of solidarity. Seeking out people who see and celebrate you isn’t weakness; it’s strength. Resistance doesn’t always look loud—it can be as soft as a deep breath or as simple as letting yourself be cared for. You don’t have to heal yourself by yourself. Love—real, unconditional love—is a collective effort.
You are valuable because you are here, because you exist, because you reflect the image of God in your queerness and your humanity. Taking care of yourself is a way of standing in that truth, even when the world tries to tell you otherwise. So take up space. Breathe deeply. Rest well. You are not only enough—you are sacred.
-Candice