David Archuleta is releasing a new children’s book this week, My Little Prayer, which is inspired by the song of the same name.
The American Idol season 7 runner-up shared with EOnline that the book is about “just being real with God,” he said, and showing gratitude but also feeling free to admit you’re disappointed or frustrated, or unsatisfied with the information at hand.
David believes in the power of prayer
“I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for prayer, if it weren’t for my relationship with God, but I’ve had to learn to not say, ‘No, this is how it is. Nope, this is what I think God has already said, and it can’t be anything else.’ I have to be open to God, that He is continuously speaking and continuously showing more light and more knowledge to his kids.”
David Archuleta Reacts to LDS Elder’s Hurtful Anti-LGBT Speech (Video)
While discussing his book, David also shared about his recent coming out as LGBTQIA. After years of therapy and self reflection, David has come to the conclusion that being LGBTQ and believing in God are not mutually exclusive.
“I never asked to be gay”
“I never asked to be gay, I tried nearly all my life to not be, I’m realizing that doesn’t work,” he said. “That’s not how it works. So I’m at this point, I just need to come to Him as I am. And a lot of people say, ‘Well, if you come to Him he’s going to change you,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, I’ve been trying that and He still hasn’t changed me, so I guess I have to just accept that that’s how I am and that He will still love me and that I’m still doing my best.’ And regardless if people understand that or not, I just want to make more room for people to be themselves, whatever that may mean.”
On having his own kids: “I don’t know what it means for me anymore.”
As far as having his own kids in the future, David told EOnline, “I don’t know what it means for me anymore.”
He explained, in light of coming out, “I have to be more open to what that can mean. And what those options would be. It’s a new process for me.”
David Archuleta Grooves to Latin Beat In New “Movin’” Music Video
For David, having children would offer an opportunity “to pass on everything that I’ve learned, to help them have a good life and to be kind, and to help just make a positive impact, wherever they are—and however they are. I still find that beautiful, because there’s nothing more beautiful than to share. And I feel like family is such a great place to share and to find purpose and meaning for oneself, especially when we get older.”
David is still learning self-acceptance, but it keeps getting better
But first, David needs to work more on accepting himself. “I don’t know when I’m going to think I’m going to be okay with myself,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to teach myself to look at myself non-judgmentally. I’ve had to accept that, for example, I’m more attracted to guys. And that’s been hard for me, coming from a standpoint of my belief is I’m supposed to be married to a woman.”
David continued, “It’s like, okay, do I choose to be single then for the rest of my life?… God always also said it’s not good for man to be alone.”
Nevertheless, life for David keeps getting better. “I’m still learning how to unburden,” he admitted. “There’s always going to be burdens we’re carrying throughout our whole life, and I think that’s how it’s supposed to be. If we didn’t have any burdens or problems, I feel like we wouldn’t be as compassionate as we should be, or as grounded as we need to be, and have perspective. So I will always be unburdening something, but I feel a lot lighter than I have, probably ever, and I’m very grateful for that.”
David’s book, My Little Prayer, is available everywhere, including Amazon, on October 12.
