Do any of you have lots of trouble “accepting uncertainty” as part of your ERP because as a Christian sometimes you wonder if it’s really OCD or true conviction? I’m struggling with this right now.
I am a Christian with OCD and I am still trying to figure everything out for myself but I also realize that God is stronger than my OCD, that He is more powerful than my troubles. With reminding myself with that I can understand that what He says and trusting Him is safer than trusting my OCD. If it's conviction the easiest way to tell is sit back and realize your present time and who you are right now. What does your OCD or what are your feelings telling you? Is it against God? Is it a sin? The first way I rule that out is the basics with 10 commandments and then I go from there. I hope this helps and if you wanna chat I'm here as your sister in Christ and another person with OCD
@Gravy Thank you so much, my current fixation is that I enjoy Video games, books and other things that are fantasy, and even though I’ve never been bothered before I’m now worried that “it’s sinful to enjoy anything that isn’t 100% Christian based” and I feel twice as guilty because I don’t want to give up things I enjoy
@Gimmeabreak I have gone through the exact same thing. Where my beliefs lie are sometimes things are a bad influence, it doesn't mean it's a sin though. Some video games and books could lead you to sinful choices although playing the game itself does not mean you will do that. Something you need to remember is, while we're on this earth, nothing will ever be 100% Christian. Where you work, where you eat, where you live, who you talk to, what games you play, ect. All fall short in the glory of God. Jesus ate with sinners, they are not good influences but His choices he makes from their influence is what decides if He was sinning or not(obviously not). Jesus surrounded himself with 12 bad influences but he didn't let them influence Him to make a wrong choice. No we're not Jesus, we will never be as perfect as Him. But know that if He, 100% human, can do it and with His forgiveness when you do fall short, that you are safe. You have the choice.
@Gravy This is so helpful, and thank you so much for this. I am so grateful for this community
@Gravy Not all games you play or books you read are bad or even bad influences btw, but if you think one of them is going to interrupt your relationship with God. It's safer to get rid of one because you will find more Joy in Him than that one game or book.
Also talked to another Christian friend and she said when something comes from God you have peace about it, even if it’s conviction and uncomfortable and something you have to change there is peace, no urgency and anxiety the same way.
@Selenalc This is 100% how I’ve always felt with my convictions, so when OCD is involved it’s so frustrating and gives me no peace
Yes! I have the same problem but I am learning to identify the OCD thoughts better. My therapist said when the thoughts are really sticky and cause a lot of anxiety it’s OCD and this has helped me!
@Selenalc This is very helpful. It’s hard because I can normally tell what OCD thoughts are, but then the what if’s come in hard
@Gimmeabreak God will never give you the spirit of fear!!
@Gimmeabreak For sure! What ifs are such a classic with OCD! Def happens to me too!
Hi. I wrote a book called Waging War Against OCD - A Christian Approach to Victory. In it I talk about how I have learned to decipher between OCD thoughts and thoughts from God. You can find it on Amazon. If you don't buy the book, the Chapter in my book I'm talking about is all about Galatians 5:22-23, James 3:17 and 2 Corinthians 3:6. All the descriptions in these 3 passages (the fruit of the Spirit, widsom from above, the Spirit of the Law vs the letter of the law) help us see how God speaks versus how OCD speaks. I hope this helps!
@Waging War Against OCD This is wonderful thank you!
question for Christians w ocd, how do u know if it’s God convicting you of something or ur ocd thoughts messing w you?
Christians and ERP question: My OCD revolves around religion (Christian) and harm, often tying them together with arbitrary scriptures from the Old Testament. My compulsions are usually answering the questionable passages with things that help me resolve the uncertainty of the passage and how it relates to me. My therapist wants me to do exposures of reading these scriptures without finding the answers through research or even my own logic. Just let the question be there. This is so very hard because it threatens to pull my faith out from underneath me if I don’t answer it. Some of the questions are so anxiety-provoking because they are Old Testament laws of wrath and punishment. I know all the Christian answers to these, and I could easily answer it. Sometimes this will bring relief, other times it won’t. So, my challenge is simply not answering it, which then leaves me in a state of deep confusion. Anyways, since these are questions many people have and struggle with that don’t have OCD, I wonder how this can be OCD?? I’ve had OCD in other themes (HoCD, harm ocd), but this just seems so different because they are valid and legit questions and I just want to resolve them! Anybody have any insight into this?
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