OCD is destroying my faith... HELP!

[Christian-Catholic]

The thing is, is no one can know whether I am going to hell or not so I just have to wait and see if I am in hell or just sleeping forever. Neither one do I want. This stinks. I can't know for sure this is ocd or unbelief
So I can't know where my soul is going

Raven , Take it from another OCD sufferer who went through most of the same thoughts, to me this is classic scrupulosity ocd, and you dont depend on yourselves for salvation, salvation is a free gift from the Lord, and you rely on the nature of our Lord not your own thoughts. Whether you think you are saved or not doesnt change the fact that you are saved, This is exactly because God is exactly who he says he is.
Jesus operates first from the heart, he knows your suffering, he knows your pain and he knows the confusion you are feeling right now.

Rely on His personality and nature, not on these thoughts you are having during this ordeal.

 

[Christian-Catholic]

yeah these are the thoughts im struggling with what really bothers me is Christians arent supposed to be able to say that although I thought it and didnt say it it still bothers me because I thought it. I have another question on a new thread will someone go answer that please?

It bothers you because U love God deep down in your heart and soul worriedone. If this was someone who didnt care it wouldnt effect them at all, and this is how we know that its not a decision from your will to think it.

If you think I can see it, how much more does God know you my friend, as I said before worriedone you suffered and still cried out to God. Your faith is huge and the same goes with Raven, and its not based upon what I say, but its based on the nature of our Lord.

 

[raven1]

How in the world can we know we aren't going to hell. Everyone can say we have OCD but who really knows that we can't know ourselves if it is OCD or unbelief how can anyone else. We can't know till we are dead and we end up in hell heaven or nowhere.

 

[TheWorriedOne]

will you answer my question about vows its a long story it's on another thread.

 

[Christian-Catholic]

How in the world can we know we aren't going to hell. Everyone can say we have OCD but who really knows that we can't know ourselves if it is OCD or unbelief how can anyone else. We can't know till we are dead and we end up in hell heaven or nowhere.

Dont you think God knows how weak we are of the flesh? Why do you think Jesus said "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". Raven I see the pattern here and its one of obsessive and repetetive thoughts. This screams OCD to anyone that isnt experiencing it. You are saved by Gods mercy and what he did on the cross for all of us. Hold on to that cross Raven, and get the help that all of us ocd sufferers require.

 

[Christian-Catholic]

will you answer my question about vows its a long story it's on another thread.

Question answered my friend

 

[raven1]

I know that worrying about it is scrupolosity. The doubt itself is from ourselves though we want proof. God says he has given us enough and faith is a gift. So where is it. I don't get the gift. Some say no way your doubt God exists is OCD not unbelief well I don't have 100 percent proof it is so I could be going to hell. I don't have 100 percent proof he is there so I get to spend the rest of my life fearing hell or nothingness. Somebody said every night you are asleep like death so what is to worry about. I even had someone say she would rather hell exist then nothing. I want to look forward to heaven like I used too. Never fear hell and feel like my life means something again.

 

[Christian-Catholic]

Raven this is the trick of OCD, OCD knows you can never have 100% proof of anything, but OCD can at times make you feel like you have no faith at all. This is when you just have to trust in our lord and let him fill the gap for that doubt. Like I said we all have doubt but with OCD that doubt becomes inflamed big time and it keeps repeating itself and teh only way you can make urself feel better is to getthe reassurrance and you and I both know that it doesnt last, and then the thoughts come again.

Its a viscious cycle
The first thing you need to do is get help from a professional, hopefully one that is a christian.

 

[raven1]

The thing is though we are not supposed to doubt. So what if ocd loops it around it is still doubt from our hearts.

 

[Christian-Catholic]

Raven,OCD is a disorder of the brain , not of the heart.God in his infinite wisdom knows this and therefore it is not even considered a sin much less a mark against salvation

 

[raven1]

That is just it I cannot prove at all this is OCD. I have three girls at my vet clinic that doubt the only thing is they don't obsess about it so yes my ruminations are OCD but there is absolutely no way to know if the doubt is and therefore no way at all to know if I am saved.

 

[TheWorriedOne]

I'm having another OCD flare up this morning with my doubts like its saying if God was real why does this or that happen to people. I'm trying to depend on God to save me but I can't like my brains saying I don't wanna depend on anything. I'm trying not to think about it but it's hard when you don't know if you're losing your faith or if you're even a believer.

 

[raven1]

I know man. I feel ya

 

[cmsracing]

Hello Everyone, I'm new to the forum. I was looking for a good Christian forum to frequent, and while looking I saw the OCD threads. This one in particular caught my attention.When I started reading the posts from TheWorriedOne and Raven1 my heart sank for a minute. The words I was reading could have been written by me 15 years ago. I've been in your shoes. I've been to the point of taking my own life, but couldn't do it, not knowing if I was saved or not. But after my heart sank I became excited, because I think I can help.
You ask how to tell if it's the OCD or a lack of faith? Let me promise you, it's the OCD. The Bible tells us in II Timothy 1:7 " For God does not give us the spirit of fear: but of power, of love, and of a sound mind". I ask you, do these fears and doubts bring you a sense of power, love or a sound mind? I doubt it. God's salvation through his Son Jesus is so simple the faith of a little child can receive it.
You ask, how do I know that I'm saved? If there has ever been a time when you reached out to Jesus and ask him to save you, then you have His word that he did not turn you away. Read Romans 10: 13.
You ask yourself, was my faith great enough to be saved? The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8 that even the faith we use to reach out to him was given to us by God. If you called upon His name and He didn't save you, then Gods a liar and his grace is not sufficient to save you. God does not use salvation as a carrot on a stick, where He it hangs it out in front of you then pulls it away when you reach for it.
I was worried that when I called upon Him that I did it wrong. Did I say the right words, did I need to be on my knees, were my eyes closed? Let me assure you that even the most feeble attempt to come to him is sufficient. And once you were saved you were secured forever. Read I Peter 1: 3-5.
And let me tell you something about your faith. The fact that you are still fighting this battle and have not given up takes a tremendous amount of faith. Your clinging to something that your OCD is telling you is untrue. Be proud of your faith.
The first thing I would reccomend that you do is something most people on this forum would disagree with. I know you are probably constantly searching the scriptures looking for the answers you need. But when your finished, you don't have answers, just more questions. Take a step back, give yourself a break. Find a few scriptures that comfort you and cling to them. Find yourself a good Bible believing church that will give you the support you need.
Finally, if you don't hear another word I say, please hear this:
YOU DO NOT HAVE A RELIGON PROBLEM. YOU DON'T HAVE A GOD PROBLEM. YOU HAVE AN OCD PROBLEM. You have some kind of chemical problem inside your brain or body, and it can be treated. Please find a DR. you trust and have him test you for these things. And once he sees the problem, he will know how to treat you. Remember Dr.s can be God's tool for helping you.
I've been at peace with my OCD for a lot of years now. Not a day goes by that I don't have a passing doubt about my salvation. But I see it for what it is and immediatly dismiss it.
You cannot use your feelings to gauge your salvation or your faith. Your feelings will lie to you every time. I use God's word as my gauge.
Please stay in the fight. I'm proof that there is abundant life after OCD

 

[followJesus1811]

thanks for the encouragement

 

[TheWorriedOne]

Thank you cms racing you made me feel a little better Sometimes I feel like giving up but I know I can't did you have this what'd you do about it?

 

[cmsracing]

Yes, I've been thru it just like you. I wore myself out searching in the scriptures, praying for it to pass, talking to anyone who would listen. I found absolutely no relief.
Then I found an older gentleman who was a retired chaplan from a mental health facillity. He told me he would be glad to council me under one condition, and that was for me to go see a medical doctor friend of his. I saw the doctor and after doing all kinds of blood tests he found a chemical imbalance and found a drug that worked for me, and I was on my way to recovery. It took about 3 weeks for the meds to start helping, but when they kicked in, the intrusive and compulsive thoughts started to come less frequently. And as my mind started to clear I was able to start seeing that all of my doubts and fears were strictly OCD not a problem with my faith, salvation or other issues with God.
It's not an instant cure, it's a process. But when you know what the problem is and you know your getting better, it makes it bearable.

 

[raven1]

How can u possibly know what is ocd and isn't.

 

[cmsracing]

Read the scripture in II Timothy that I listed in my earlier post. "God does not give us the spirit of fear". Read I Corinthians 14:33 " God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.
If what your experiencing now causes you fear or confusion, I don't believe it comes from God.

 

[raven1]

Yes but u can't know 100 percent for sure your ocd is causing you to doubt.