In our fortnightly column ‘Great Sexpectations’ we answer your questions on sex, faith and intimacy. Drop us an email on womanalive@premier.org.uk and ask us anything. Here, the Woman Alive team answer a woman who wants to share her faith with her family.
Dear Woman Alive,
I became a Christian ten years ago at university. My faith in Jesus has changed everything about my life in a wonderful way, God has healed me of a health condition, and given me supernatural joy in life. I want to share Jesus with my family when I go home this Christmas, but I don’t know how! My sister married a Hindu man, and even though he is not religious, I think my parents don’t want me to offend him by talking about my faith. I don’t want to give up on my family, and I do pray for them, but is that enough?
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Dear Reader,
It’s beautiful to hear how deeply Jesus has transformed your life. Your gratitude, your desire to share him, and your sensitivity toward your family all show a mature and Spirit-led heart. Wanting your loved ones to know the hope you’ve found is natural, and God-honouring. But it’s also understandable to feel unsure about how to speak about faith in a family setting where beliefs differ and emotions can run high.
Here are a few reflections to help you approach Christmas with both courage and wisdom:
1. Remember that God is already at work in your family.
You are not carrying the burden of their salvation. Scripture reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the one who draws hearts to Christ.
You are not carrying the burden of their salvation. Scripture reminds us that the Holy Spirit is the one who draws hearts to Christ. Your prayers matter profoundly, they are not a “last resort”; they are participation in God’s work. Sometimes intercession is the most powerful ministry we can offer in a given season.
READ MORE: Is this the secret to a happy Christmas this year?
2. Sharing Jesus doesn’t always begin with words.
You may imagine evangelism as a specific conversation about faith, but often it starts with presence. Let your family experience the peace, joy, and gentleness Christ has cultivated in you. People are drawn to the fruit of the Spirit long before they’re ready to hear the message behind it.
3. Let the Holy Spirit open the door, not pressure.
Rather than aiming to “bring up” your faith, stay attentive to natural openings, times when someone asks how you’re really doing, how you’ve changed, or what brings you joy. You can share honestly and simply, without forcing a moment.
For example, if someone comments on how well you seem, you might say, “I’ve really experienced God’s healing in my life, and it’s made such a difference for me.” That’s a testimony, gentle, personal, and invitational, not confrontational.
READ MORE: Leaning into Jesus when it feels hard this Christmas
4. Respect honours Christ too.
Being mindful of your sister’s husband and your parents’ feelings is not compromise, it’s love. Jesus never pushed past people’s boundaries; he invited, he listened, he asked questions. You can embody his character even while being faithful to your convictions.
5. Let your family see your faith rather than feel targeted by it.
Pray before meals if that is normal in your family, read your Bible quietly in the morning, offer practical help, extend forgiveness quickly, and be a presence of calm in the holiday chaos. These are powerful witnesses.
6. Trust the long journey.
The people who know us best often come to faith through years of watching our transformation, not one intense holiday conversation. Seeds planted now may grow in ways you cannot yet see.
So is prayer “enough”? Prayer is never small. It is foundational. But prayer combined with love, patience, authenticity, and Spirit-led openness—that is more than enough. It’s exactly the kind of witness Jesus asks of us. Go home this Christmas with peace. Be yourself. Let Christ in you be seen. And trust God with what happens next.
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