I recently read a true account of a young woman named Laura Beth Perry. Laura recalls her childhood and having trouble relating to the other girls at school. She had a strained relationship with her mother. Laura invested her energies into relationships with males instead of females. She became mired in sexual sin and was being mistreated by the boys she sought out. Laura sensed bitterness toward other women and found she was very unhappy with her life. She started to listen to lies that perhaps she was supposed to be a man. That would give her fulfillment and make her happy.
Laura looked online for information and found thousands of others who felt just like she did. They were pushing Laura to transition to a man. Laura took hormones. She grew facial hair and her voice got lower. People started to affirm her as a male instead of a female.
Laura’s parents were devastated and leaned on their faith. Laura rejected her faith altogether and instead started praying to Satan.
Laura decided to have chest surgery. After the surgery, Laura started to realize that the surgery did nothing to make her a man. She felt stupid, wondering why she thought cutting off her breasts would make her a man. Unfortunately, she took the next step and had a hysterectomy, but was still miserable.
Before the next surgery in her transition, Laura said, “I just realized with horror that I was never going to be a man, no matter what I did. I started to realize, I could have the outer appearance of a man, everyone could think I was a man, but I knew the truth inside.”
Laura saw a change in her parents as their faith deepened. Her transition didn’t make her happy. She eventually gave her life back to the Lord.
Laura started a messy, painful, and difficult journey to de-transition. The first time she shopped for female clothing, she cried. But God redeemed and transformed her life. Today she is engaged to a man that loves her and she has left the bitterness and misery behind. She is living for the Lord.
Laura’s life story is becoming common in our culture: young people mutilating their bodies, not seeing themselves from God’s perspective. Never has it been more important to teach our children that they are created in God’s image. God loves them and God knew them before they were formed in the womb. God loves them above all creation.
Consider the following verses. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Every person is fearfully and wonderfully made. We must teach our children to value themselves as the wonderful creation that God has made them to be.
Jim Nolt – Executive Board Member
