When Grace Meets Conviction
between loving their child and remaining faithful to Christ.
Foreword by Jim Daly · Afterword by Joe Dallas
The audiobook is also available. Listen to a 5-minute sample
Read the first chapter free.
Start reading today. I’ll send you the first chapter, then a few short notes over the next two weeks for parents in the hardest part of this.
Rob Jackson, MS, LPC, has been a licensed counselor for forty years and has written for Focus on the Family for more than twenty-five. He serves in Focus on the Family’s counseling department and works with parents and couples in his private practice.
From Rob JacksonWhy I Wrote This Book
Many parents today feel trapped between two impossible options: affirm everything or lose the relationship. That false dilemma has wounded families, fractured churches, and left faithful parents unsure how to move forward.
I wrote When Grace Meets Conviction for those who love their children deeply and desire to remain obedient to Christ — without panic or rejection.
Endorsements for When Grace Meets Conviction
“Rob Jackson is the right person to write this book. He thoroughly and accurately understands the key issues, and he has years of experience discussing them with parents. He understands the parent-child dynamic and, most importantly, he believes in God’s truths, addressing them with joy and passion. When Grace Meets Conviction will help you feel known and not alone with your confusion, fear, or grief. With kindness and compassion, Rob offers clarity, confidence, peace, and hope. While it’s important to him to help you solve problems, he considers the quality of your relationship with your child most significant. That’s why you should read this book.”Dr. Kathy KochSpeaker, Podcaster, Founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc., and Author of Several Parenting Books Including Start with the Heart, Parent Differently, and Raising Gender-Confident Kids
“When Grace Meets Conviction is a lifeline for those with a gay- or trans-identifying loved one. Rob Jackson is a trusted Christian therapist who has helped thousands of clients through almost every struggle imaginable. This book tackles one of the toughest issues of our day with straight talk, grace, and biblical backing. It’s a resource I’ll keep close at hand for the students and families we work with in our ministry.”Jeff Myers, PhDPresident of Summit Ministries and Coauthor of Raising Gender-Confident Kids
“As a psychiatrist who spends his days at the intersection of brain science, broken hearts, and the breathtaking grace of Jesus Christ, I’m always looking for resources that tell the truth without forgetting to love the person. When Grace Meets Conviction does exactly that, while also managing to lower everyone’s blood pressure in the process. Rob Jackson offers parents something rare and desperately needed: a way to stay rooted in historic, biblical Christianity without turning dinner conversations into theological cage matches. He treats loss, confusion, and love not as abstract ideas, but as parts of real family life. This book is clinically wise, pastorally tender, and refreshingly sane, helping parents separate identity from behavior, conviction from control, and love from fear. If you want a resource that speaks clearly, loves deeply, and doesn’t require a counseling degree to understand, this is it. Grace and conviction don’t have to be enemies, and Rob’s book shows they can be teammates.”Dr. Karl BenzioBoard-Certified Psychiatrist and Cofounder / Medical Director of Honey Lake Clinic
“In When Grace Meets Conviction, Rob Jackson delivers foundational biblical insights and practical tools for navigating an unexpected, complex, and often divisive and painful dynamic. This comprehensive resource goes beyond theory, equipping parents for difficult conversations with the grace and wisdom needed to maintain connection and pursue lasting healing through an understanding of God’s steadfast love and incredible design for sexuality. This is a must-have resource for parents!”Danny HuertaVice President of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family
“In this thoughtful and carefully written book, Rob Jackson draws on Scripture and his many years of counseling experience to offer counsel and guidance for parents and their LGBT children, addressing the personal, emotional, and familial challenges associated with these issues. Wrestling with dozens of real-life questions, Jackson offers both conviction and clarity, doing so with compassion, care, and concern. Even those who might disagree with Rob’s counsel will recognize his efforts to navigate these questions with both grace and truth. I am grateful for Rob’s writing and ministry, and I am glad to recommend this book. It genuinely manifests grace and conviction while encouraging parents to love God and their LGBT children.”Dr. David S. DockeryPresident and Distinguished Professor of Theology
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
For parents and leaders seeking faithful love.
- ✓Christian parents navigating a child’s sexual or identity journey.
- ✓Parents who want to remain relationally present without surrendering conviction.
- ✓Those weary of culture-war reactions and longing for a more faithful way.
- ✓Pastors, counselors, and leaders walking alongside families with wisdom and care.
Clear, compassionate, and not reactionary.
- ✓A political manifesto or debate script.
- ✓A shame-driven response.
- ✓A simplistic “how-to” guide.
- ✓A book written to win arguments.
When you don’t want to walk this alone
Most parents on this road have no one at church they can talk to, and no regular place to ask hard questions. The Parents Membership is that place: learn alongside other parents and find steady help and hope.
When you need more than a book
Some parents need focused, private time with a coach who understands both the grief and the convictions.
For pastors and church staff
Most churches know what they believe. Fewer know what to do in the first ninety seconds after a parent says, “My son told me last night.”
A Few Common Questions
Will you be pressuring people or sending constant emails?
No. You’ll receive occasional updates and can unsubscribe anytime.
Is this only for parents?
Parents are the primary audience, but leaders often join as well.
Is this book for parents of adult children?
Yes. Many of the parents I work with have teens or grown children who told them years ago. The book is written for wherever you are in the story.
When Grace Meets Conviction:
Loving God and Your LGBT Child
The audiobook is also available. Listen to a 5-minute sample