We are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Come meet your trans neighbors

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.

-Psalm 139:14 (NRSV-UE)

Welcome to Wonderfully Made. My name is Celeste Irwin, and I am a transgender Christian woman. If some part of that surprises you, or you’re not entirely sure what that means, or want to learn more, you’re in the right place.

Let me tell a short story. Two years ago, I didn’t even know that a trans person could be a Christian. And I knew I was Christian, so I knew I couldn’t be trans. I didn’t even dare to learn much about trans people, and I worked very hard to show that I was a Not a Woman. I would never have worn pink, or engaged in really anything stereotypically “feminine.” I’d avoid crying if at all possible.

In 2021, I began speaking on Twitter about spiritual abuse¹. And then it happened - I found a Christian trans woman. I saw her regularly demonstrate her faith was deeply authentic. It was honestly like meeting a unicorn. I always thought they didn’t exist, but now one was literally right in front of me.

And I felt jealous. In a way that scared me. Because my deep, visceral reaction was simply: Why does she get to do that, and I don’t?

That was almost two years ago. And look at me now.

Easter 2023 - He is risen. He’s alive. And so am I.

I came out publicly on January 17th, 2023.

I have a long, long road ahead of me, but I feel more alive, more at peace, and more joyful than I can remember in years, maybe ever. Some hard things in life are still hard. But they are less hard. And the good things are better.

I am finally embracing the way I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God, as a transgender woman.

But it’s not just me

There’s a lot of us. More than you’d know. I’m blessed to have made a number of trans friends in the last two years. They teach me about being trans, yes, but also being a parent, being a Christian, being a person. They’re sharp and fierce. They’re funny and kind. And they’re beautiful on the inside and out. They are, as the Psalmist wrote, fearfully and wonderfully made.

My goal is to show you that beauty. To let you see that your trans and non-binary neighbors have so much faith, hope, and love to share with the world. Those who continue to follow have a fire-tested faith (1 Peter 1:7).

What’s next?

I invite you to join me on this journey - we’ll talk about things like:

1. So who am I, really?

2. What does the Bible have to say about trans people?

3. Why am I still a Christian?

4. What’s it like being trans?

5. What was it like being closeted for 40 years?

6. How can you support your trans friends and family?

7. Why is there so much anti-trans legislation?

8. What are some great trans resources?

9. And much more…

In fact, you can submit questions here, any time, and I’ll do my best to answer them, or point you to someone who already has answered them well.

Logistics

I do intend to make recordings of these and publish them as a podcast as well for those who prefer to listen instead of read. And I very, very much want to feature the stories of other trans people, particularly Christians, as well as conversations with cisgender (not trans) people who want to learn, even if they aren’t sure how they feel about trans people yet.

I will make mistakes, and so a regular part of this little endeavor will be sharing feedback I receive where you all think I got something not quite right. I am also only one trans voice. Other trans people will have different perspectives, and that’s good. I’ll aim to present their differences as well. I’m not an authority on any of this, but I like sharing what I’ve learned and continue to learn.

Looking forward to talking with you, I’ll leave the comments open, and I’m always on Twitter. Before you go, hit the subscribe button please!

Love

I always want to part with something encouraging. So today, know that you, friend, are also fearfully and wonderfully made. God knows you by name, and loves you deeply, apart from anything you have ever done or will ever do. And if nothing else, I hope you find some bit of peace and rest in that thought.

With love,

Celeste Irwin

1. See my website, Not Overcome for more on that subject.