OCD and SALVATION

[kicker]

Just a quick question? How many on this site are worried that they have never been saved. I know some have worried that they have lost salvation but I am curious how many like me have terrible fears that they have never truly been saved because for some unknown reason they feel they can't trust God enough or their own heart for their forgiveness. Or maybe you feel your faith is too weak. Just curious how many will say that this is a major fear for them. Thanks
James

 

[alreadybutnotyet]

That is really what all my fears boil down to. I do not believe that I can lose my salvation, but I constantly fear that I never really had it.

 

[tyield1102]

I have had both of those fears, but my main one is that I was never really saved in the first place so therefore I can't lose what I never had. I fear that I will never have the faith or trust to really be saved.

 

[gracealone]

Yes Kicker, thats been a big one for me. ie... "What if I never really believed good enough in the beginning? What if my faith has been phony all along? Maybe I'll be like the pastor in the left behind series who wasn't raptured because he was never really saved. etc. etc."

Trying to check, examine or scrutinize to see if our feeling of faith is real will typically remove all feelings of faith.

You aren't alone my friend.
Mitzi

Just a quick question? How many on this site are worried that they have never been saved. I know some have worried that they have lost salvation but I am curious how many like me have terrible fears that they have never truly been saved because for some unknown reason they feel they can't trust God enough or their own heart for their forgiveness. Or maybe you feel your faith is too weak. Just curious how many will say that this is a major fear for them. Thanks
James

 

[Jayangel81]

I agree alot of people have these problems

Maybe I'll be like the pastor in the left behind series who wasn't raptured because he was never really saved. etc. etc."

The pastor was saved though,He was left behind for a reason, to reach out to that family Because the pastor was left behind, he was able to show them that video

 

[kaykay9.0]

Yes, I too, have had this fear. Probably one of my first religious "OCD fears." I think, when you struggle with OCD and it gets into religious OCD(as it does with most Christians who struggle with it,) it will likely produce doubts to absolutely ANY area of our faith or salvation that there can possibly be any uncertainty. Does that make sense?

And yes, the unsaved pastor in the Left Behind series messed with my mind a little too.:o Just remember, though, while I do believe that the authors of Left Behind, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, are Godly men, I think it's important for us to remember that this IS just a book, just a STORY. Not real life, not the Bible.

Along those same lines, I also have to remember that sometimes when someone may say something that triggers my OCD, that if it's not the Bible, then it's just their opinion, (they may be right or they may be totaly off base) and for that matter, even the Bible can be misapplied by people.

 

[pjspara]

yes kicker.... its something i deal with too.... i have to keep reminding myself thats GOD knows our hearts.... and we long to believe, to feel secure, to KNOW FOR SURE, etc.... we even perhaps search for HIM more than others who dont struggle with this... and even though our hearts condemn us.... HE KNOWS we are scared and searching..
it used to bother me that it says we are to some to him as children, but ... arent children often afraid? or unsure? or questioning?.... so when i fell totally consumed by my fears, i just say "LORD only YOU KNOW MY TRUE HEART AND FEARS... and YOU know i want to be saved more than ANYTHING in this whole world , so if i have to give these feelings to you EVERYDAY, then i will ..
just remember, if we werent HIS kids we wouldnt care about this so much.....

when i talk to my non christian friends.... they dont seem concerned ...

AND i have to remind myself..... its nothing i have done or can do...... HE did it all over 2000 years ago and if i have to get up every morning and say 'LORD forgive my unbelief .... then i will....... the very fact that i am praying that states i DO believe!!
make any sense?


may we ALL a stay strong in the struggle


pj

 

[Jayangel81]

And yes, the unsaved pastor in the Left Behind series messed with my mind a little too.:o Just remember, though, while I do believe that the authors of Left Behind, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, are Godly men, I think it's important for us to remember that this IS just a book, just a STORY. Not real life, not the Bible.

I agree

 

[keryakos]

Yes kicker i understand as well..


But i want to say that although OCD plays havoc using this fear this fear does not originate in OCD ...you would be suprised at those who suffer from no form of mental illness that have this fear ..

 

[Jayangel81]

Yes kicker i understand as well..


But i want to say that although OCD plays havoc using this fear this fear does not originate in OCD ...you would be suprised at those who suffer from no form of mental illness that have this fear ..

Amen brother,

People all over this board who do not have OCD suffer with this as well as "I feel God is not there" "I do not feel saved" some even have the "what if"

 

[BeccaLynn]

I definitely qualify!!!

Rebecca

 

[keryakos]

yes becca ..and you are in good company ..

 

[kicker]

Funny that yall would mention him because I have seen him in my thoughts countless times bouncing that ball in the church and saying "knowing and believing sure are two different things". That has terrified me at times wondering if that would be me. I agree kaykay that this is just a book and they don't really know that things will go like the books say. I do know He will return one day and rapture all believers and none will be left behind but I think sometimes that these authors today are taking advantage of peoples fears and making a profit off something that has been told already in the Bible. I prefer to stick to the Book that will be right and not reading these novels. Of course my family is totally absorbed by them which makes my situation worse. I'm glad I'm not the only one freaked out by the pastor being left and the comment he made.

James

 

[Caty]

Yes, I have this fear. I feel bad for saying this because I know I should just have simple faith, but how do you all look past this?

 

[Jayangel81]

Yes, I have this fear. I feel bad for saying this because I know I should just have simple faith, but how do you all look past this?

You shouldnt feel bad for this, if you did than it can hinder you recieving edification from others and recieving the truth through the Word of God.

If you want simple faith than the first thing you need is a good foundation in Gods Word.

There are lies and deception and than there is the light of the World.

We are not to dispel the darkness but rather uncover it by the light. Jesus is the Light, He is the truth.

How much time do you generally fill yourself up with the Word of God?

We need to cast aside our feelings and not listen to those little thoughts and lies in our head, but take up the sword of the Spirit.

You need to learn to put on the Armor of God.

Paul speaks about girding ourselves with the belt of truth, back in Roman times when Paul describes the armor of God as roman armor, the belt would pretty much hold everything together.

The belt of truth holds you together, but you cannot just put the armor on, Paul states we should also arm ourselves with prayer.

Caty, do you know how to use the Armor of God, if you do not than I would like to speak with you about it.

 

[gracealone]

Funny that yall would mention him because I have seen him in my thoughts countless times bouncing that ball in the church and saying "knowing and believing sure are two different things". \

James

Great OCD minds think alike.

It always amazes me how exactly alike OCD thoughts can be from person to person. Same illness, same symptoms.
God Bless,
Mitzi

 

[annrobert]

James ,although I for the most part fear I have lost my salvation,yet sometimes I have wondered did I ever truly have saving faith and maybe that is why I backslid and have come to have such a bad breakdown.Yet mostly I think I was saved , cause I loved worshipping and the presense of Jesus and did truly want to serve Him.and taught my children about Him and was careful about them knowing the truth.I still wonder though if I was saved what happened to me that I backslid.Pj it is true the very fact that we seek Jesus ,that we ask forgiveness for our unbelief must poove we have belief,and yes children have fears as well.and true unbelievers do not have any concerns at all about Jesus,faith ,heaven or hell.Jesus will finish the good work He has began in us.
annrobert

 

[kicker]

Really struggling right now with whether I believe or not. Actually it is more of a fear of do I want to believe or not. It feels as though I'm afraid to stand up and declare that Jesus is my Lord and I want to be able to. The fear is paralyzing.

James

 

[tyield1102]

I'm right there with you James with the fear of do i want to believe. I'm in a really bad state right now. I am completely emotionless and feel like I have nothing inside of me. No concerns for anything I just don't care. I wonder if it's from being so worked up before that my mind and body has just shut down everything and is staying this way to protect itself. I must admit it's nice not to be constantly worried, but at the same time I wonder to myself that if this means that I'm truly lost now and there is no hope for a return for me. I read that people who arent believers don't care and right now I'm there I quit believing that my thoughts were OCD and believe that they are just me. Anything thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[kicker]

Hey tyyield, I'm right there with ya on that one. I was there a couple of weeks ago and had no emotion whatsoever and while it was nice not to be panicking it made me feel like something was wrong that I couldn't feel things like I used to. I have cycled through that a few times now and it will eventually pass. Of course in my case what's up next is usually the doubts and what ifs again. But know that a lot of us have had that same dead feeling inside before

James