Dealing with OCD as a Christian

6/1/2017

Q: I have OCD with really bad thoughts. I find myself condemned, guilty, and depressed. Will God forgive me?

A: God looks at the heart and at our intentions. Obviously, these are not thoughts you want to have, and God sees that. Asking for forgiveness is something we should all ask for when we pray. However, you aren’t losing your salvation every time you have these thoughts. In Romans 8:33-34, the Apostle Paul states: "Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us." If you are united with Christ, there is no condemnation, not even from yourself. This is a great passage to meditate on:

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that many people, including Christians, struggle with. I believe that God only judges us for sins (actions) that we do rebelliously with a high hand. We all have distorted and even very strange thoughts that we can’t control. I believe God fully understands our limitations. We have broken bodies and broken minds that are the result of a fallen creation. The Bible calls these infirmities—they aren’t sins, but physical and mental conditions.

Find a Christian counselor who specializes in helping those struggling with OCD. Faithful Counseling provides Professional counseling with Christian therapists in an accessible online format.

9 Comments

Topics

This information is given with the understanding that the author is not rendering medical or legal advice. This is provided for educational purposes only. Names and identifying information have been omitted.

Tina Louise Runge

6/22/2018 04:39:35 am

Thank you for your insight. Yes, I need to remember God forgives me and greater than my own self judgement and condemnation. This is helpful. Again, thank you for the helpful words and scripture.

Joseph

9/17/2018 03:01:57 pm

This truly makes me feel so much better. I’ve been having these crazy thoughts less than two months after I gotten baptized and can’t seem to shake them out my head no matter how many times I try. But thank you so much

Skye

10/19/2018 01:09:21 pm

I suffer from severe OCD, I get intrusive thoughts about murder, sexual orientation, and causing harm towards children and animals, that make me extremely distressed! Thank you for everything that you wrote! Sometimes it’s very difficult to believe that I am worthy of god even helping me due to my thoughts! God continues to talk to me and guide me through it all though! I just wish that I could never off had any of these kind of thoughts!!!

Robyn

11/12/2018 10:00:06 am

This is comforting to me too. I have thoughts of worry about hurting someone when I see a weapon. Worry about hurting my own dog. And strange thoughts about sexual sin as well as that these thoughts are something I might do.
They didnt start to happen until i became closer with Jesus.

Danielle Ashkettle

2/27/2019 02:41:26 pm

Hi, I've always had OCD but I only have it about certain things. I believe that baptism somewhat saves you, given the 1 Peter 3:21 scripture. So I got baptized a second time i to the Church of Christ from a Baptist church I attending with my aunt that I got baotized in. (I grew up in the Church of Christ) So my mom took a video of me getting baptized and it seems like the tip of my back didnt go all the way under, (I was immersed forwards instead of bakwards) even though I guess I couldnt be 10000 percent sure. I've tried getting her to rebaptize me twice in my bathtub and I know for sure I went under but I can't quit thinking about it and replaying the images of my baptism at church and it's consuming my life. I don't think it's so much I feel like I'm not saved, but moreso the fact that I just feel weird and somewhat that I didn't do it the right way by not having every inch of my body (maybe) convered. Please help me. My pastor told me to trust him that he got me all the way under, but the video just, I don't know. I couldn't tell. Please please help. I dont want to have to ask him to baptize me again, or find a lake somewhere where I can be deep under water. I just want to get through this.

Noah

3/30/2019 02:20:26 pm

I think i actually felt the same way a few weeks ago when i got baptized a second time. I might not have. But i totally understand what you are feeling. Maybe not the exactly the same scenario, oh but i understand and relate to you. I just want you to reread the very first sentence in this article, and read it until you cant forget it. I my self am in a heavy battle right now in learning to just trust in Jesus Christ. So i dont want to say too much that i would give the wrong advice, but i will say what i felt to say which was to reread the very first sentence "God looks at the heart and at our intentions."

Anonymous

5/13/2019 06:39:21 pm

Hey Danielle,

The Bible says in Romans 10:9 "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Jesus saves, and all we need to do to accept His salvation is to accept Him as Lord and Savior. If baptism was a requirement for salvation, it would be listed in Romans 10:9. The Bible is pure truth. Baptism is an act of obedience, as we are commanded to be baptized after salvation, but it does not save anybody. There's not enough water in the universe to wash us clean of our sins. The blood of Jesus washes us white as snow. The Bible does not say that you have to be baptized to be saved, and it does not say that you have to have every square inch of your body covered or the baptism doesn't count. If Jesus has saved you and sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in you, you have no reason to doubt. Pray about it and tell God about your doubts and fears. Ask Him to bring clarity to your heart about this.

Ann

7/1/2019 03:28:56 pm

Hey, my name is Ann. i suffer from the intrusive what you call harm ocd or pure ocd and i have terrible anxiety and depression. and i just can't seem to find any help in Louisiana where i live. i just feel desperate to ask if anyone knows of any place in louisiana where i could just go and talk to someone. i lost my Dad in may of 2018, my best friend and 3 weeks later my husband and i have been apart ever since. thank you

Ann

Ask a Christian Counselor Support Team

7/3/2019 11:09:53 am

Hi Ann,
Sorry to hear about what you have been dealing with. OCD can be very scary. We recommend Faithful Counseling if you are open to online help from a licensed Christian therapist: https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/acc

Blessings on your journey ahead.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Q&A Blog