I think this is my religion/existential OCD? I think I’m having an identity crisis because I feel like I know who I am. What I mean is that I place my identity in my values, and my passions. But I feel so incredibly guilty about that. Because everyone says to live through Christ. I’m having lots of doubts. Maybe I’ve made everything up. If I want to be a real Christian then I need to place my identity in only Christ, and to me I suppose that means to make religion the most important part of life. If I’m honest, I don’t think I can put God first. My passions and purpose seem to go before Him, even though I know that’s wrong. Or is it. I don’t know. I’m having an existential crisis at 17 because I’ve been through the ringer. I’m just so confused. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to put my worth in Christ. And I feel like an awful person for that.

Hey. I don’t know how helpful this will be, because I’ve been in the midst of religious ocd and it was hell. But God doesn’t want us to give up our personalities. He made them and he wants us to embrace them, with all the desires and interests and passions that come with being human. He loves to see us geek out about some random thing he created and put on earth for us to find, like medieval illumination or pterosaurs. It’s hard to be fully ourselves with ocd, because it diverts all our natural energy and joy into anxiety and compulsions. The greatest praise you can offer God right now is to work on your mental wellness, so eventually you’ll be able to exist and praise and love him freely, without tormenting yourself with worry. Sending love and peace.

Hi there, try not to be so hard on yourself. Know that God is with you every step of the way. The fact that you realize how important it is to have God in your life and giving everything to Him is awesome. He knows how much you want to be close to Him and understands our struggles. Just have faith and trust in Him! God bless you 🙏

It's difficult to feel so much guilt. The wonderful thing is that Christ took all our guilt and sins to the cross and died for our sins. Keep looking to Christ and what he did for you instead of over analyzing what you think and do. Do you think you are trying to be perfect? Nobody can be perfect, but God looks at Christians as being perfect since Jesus died for our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ God's Son cleanses us from all sin." Reading Psalm 103 might help.