Perspective!

[canamer]

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[HoneyComb Son]

your OCD isnt a good thing you know..so ya..there is no reason for it..its bad..but whatever helps you sleep at night i guess

 

[canamer]

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[HoneyComb Son]

can I count battle scars too I dont wanna be left out, lol you just put words into my mouth..ty

 

[canamer]

**

 

[gracealone]

Look, I apologize for being snippy with you. I didn't have the right attitude when I said this. I know OCD is hard. One day with OCD is one day too many. I keep looking for the same answers you're looking for. The only reason why I'm still here today fighting this battle is because I'm a Christian. If I wasn't a Christian and I had no hope, I would've taken the last train to the coast and checked out a long time ago, in despair. Have a good day.

You are right Canamer in everything you said. In the life of a Christian all trials and affliction have their purpose. For me my OCD has completely shifted my focus from any ridiculous notion of self sufficiency to complete sufficiency on God's grace. It's like this tool that God has used to teach me so much more about who He is and who I am in relation to Him. There is nothing light or easy about any affliction but just like Paul's thorn God will make His strength perfect in and through all our weaknesses. You keep on keeping on. CS Lewis said, "If the will to walk is still there, then God is pleased even with our stumbles."
Thank you for a beautiful post!
Mitzi

 

[HoneyComb Son]

your OCD isnt a tool either....its a sickness...you all act like a bad thing is a good thing even when you say it is not..but what you write just shows it

 

[Sasha37]

God uses EVERYTHING to accomplish His purposes in us and through us, even the crappy stuff. And, yes, OCD is a huge wheelbarrow full of crappiness if crappiness is even a word which I am offcially declaring it to be to make my point. So just think of that wheelbarrow full of you know what as the fertilizer God uses to grow you up in Him. If you are not a believer, though, I completely see your point.

 

[HoneyComb Son]

and thats the point..when you preach the gospel make sure to point that out to people..dont leave it out..sicknesses and diseases are bad things they dont help a person become a better person..take that in the right context..

this is one of the biggest issues of christianity...it has a great mask at looking good..but once a person is in..it reveals itself for what it really is..thats why I replied to this post..
people seem more "religious" then anything else with paton answers and replies..

you seem like you care..but more like white washed walls..what is real may I ask about you

 

[Sasha37]

Are you directing this question at me or Canamer? It sounds a bit sarcastic, too, like you think you already know the answer, but I'm hoping I'm misunderstanding you.

 

[canamer]

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[gracealone]

your OCD isnt a tool either....its a sickness...you all act like a bad thing is a good thing even when you say it is not..but what you write just shows it

"1 Peter 1:6 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come SO THAT your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." That's the good thing.
The apostle Paul:
"there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. That's the good thing.

Are these answers petty, fake, or pat? Or are they answers that have been brought about IN and through painful trials? Are the people making these statements white washed speakers of falsehood or are they speaking the truth? Can any of us ever judge or assume the level of suffering or the work of God in another's life?
Most of the people who bother to visit this forum are here due to intense suffering from the "torment" (may I borrow from Paul) of their personal struggle OCD. Their choice to stand firm in their statements concerning God's work in and through this affliction does not come easy to them. OCD creates intense pain, confusion and it can also bring about accusation and judgment from fellow Christians. Although this adds to the pain as it did in the case of Job we can all choose to exercise our volitional faith just as Job did. "Though he slay me - yet will I trust him." Job said that while right in the midst of incredible pain, confusion and sorrow. Whenever the name of God is lifted up, whenever someone testifies to His faithfulness it is always a "good thing".
The word of God is truth and there is no second guessing as to what the passages above were conveying concerning our choice when we are in the midst of a fiery trial. Truth stands and is unmoved whether it is believed or not. Just because we don't happen to "feel" our faith does not mean that God isn't faithful. Feelings are the things that are often invalid and in the case of OCD that is the whole problem. We begin to trust in our feelings more than we trust in the unmoveable and unshakeable love of God.
Just one more quote from another of God's servants -
John Bunyan:
"These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with; yet the wisdom of God doth order them for my good."

I thank God for the testimony of faith that Mr. Bunyan shared in his book "Grace Abounding.." While he is home with the Lord his steadfast determination to walk and to continually praise God in and through the torture of his OCD has strengthened my faith tremendously. And that is "a good thing!!"
Mitzi

 

[gracealone]

and thats the point..when you preach the gospel make sure to point that out to people..dont leave it out..sicknesses and diseases are bad things they dont help a person become a better person..take that in the right context..

this is one of the biggest issues of christianity...it has a great mask at looking good..but once a person is in..it reveals itself for what it really is..thats why I replied to this post..
people seem more "religious" then anything else with paton answers and replies..

you seem like you care..but more like white washed walls..what is real may I ask about you

Honeycomb....
What do you mean by "once a person is in"? In what?

What do you mean by- "it reveals itself for what it really is?"

And why do you assume that the answers given on this forum are "paton" rather than hard won choices/decisions to follow and trust in Christ in and through the painful affliction of OCD.
It sounds as if you are suggesting that those of us who have chosen to lift up His name even while IN the midst of an affliction don't really get or understand what "real" suffering is. Is that what you are suggesting? I am hoping not.
If you are asking what is real concerning me and OCD - this is what is real. I am a weak and afflicted vessel who has needed to be humbled by an affliction called OCD which I have, in the past, totally abhorred and in the present, can still find to be extremely painful. But God had demonstrated to me that He is able to work both in and through this affliction to bring about His good intentions both for me and for other's who He has brought into my life. These are those who have suffered in a similar manner. It has been an enormous privilege to come alongside them, wrap my arms around them and encouraged them "with the same encouragement I have received from God" while living with OCD. This affliction has deepened my faith in Him and it's taken my eyes off so many worthless things. Most of which is this idea that I could ever do even one thing that was of eternal value on my own without God's strength. I agree with John Bunyan that "God has ordered it for my good".
I won't assume anything about the work of God in your life. That is between you and Him. I won't judge you for your very real experience of pain or try to assume anything concerning you. God knows who you are... I do not. But you know what? You don't know who I am either so I am only asking you to please drop your presumptions concerning my own experience with OCD and more importantly concerning God's dealings with me as to whether they are valid or not. I would greatly appreciate that.
I'm praying for you and I do care deeply about the pain that you may be in. But He cares far more than I do so He is the one to whom you should keep looking. His love is always certain. The cross is all the proof I need of that.
Mitzi

 

[gracealone]

Son, you are entitled to your opinion. I have apologized for not having the right attitude towards you but I do not apologize for how I feel about this matter. I will not be judged (by you) either. If you feel that everything bad that happens to you is chaotic and meaningless and without purpose go ahead and feel that way. Who am I to stop you? I'm just another Joe Blow. If you want to get into a debate about what the point of OCD is (and if God can use it for the greater good of his kingdom) I would say to you that you have the right forum here but the wrong person to debate the issue with. I will have no further comment on this matter. Thanks.

Your statements of faith concerning the sovereign purposes of God in your life in and through your OCD does encourage and strengthen my faith! And that, right there, is a very, "good thing". Again... I thank you for sharing.
Keep walking, but when you do, remember that you need to brace yourself for these episodes. Accept and expect them and continue to arm yourself with the truth of scripture. "And having done all... STAND."
Praying for you.
Mitzi

 

[Sasha37]

Amen!

 

[RPicking]

I totally understand what you're saying at how OCD can be a positive thing. And that is an encouragement to me. To look at the future and consider that God could be using this in my life to help and mature me in my walk and to even bring me closer to God himself. I know that at this point I can't say, that OCD is a good thing...but I would like to be in that position, to say that OCD is a good thing. I see how OCD could be a good thing...It teaches patiences and longsuffering and gentleness and self conrol, every single character trait that we should have as a Christian.

 

[HeatherG]

"1 Peter 1:6 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come SO THAT your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." That's the good thing.
The apostle Paul:
"there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. That's the good thing.

Are these answers petty, fake, or pat? Or are they answers that have been brought about IN and through painful trials? Are the people making these statements white washed speakers of falsehood or are they speaking the truth? Can any of us ever judge or assume the level of suffering or the work of God in another's life?
Most of the people who bother to visit this forum are here due to intense suffering from the "torment" (may I borrow from Paul) of their personal struggle OCD. Their choice to stand firm in their statements concerning God's work in and through this affliction does not come easy to them. OCD creates intense pain, confusion and it can also bring about accusation and judgment from fellow Christians. Although this adds to the pain as it did in the case of Job we can all choose to exercise our volitional faith just as Job did. "Though he slay me - yet will I trust him." Job said that while right in the midst of incredible pain, confusion and sorrow. Whenever the name of God is lifted up, whenever someone testifies to His faithfulness it is always a "good thing".
The word of God is truth and there is no second guessing as to what the passages above were conveying concerning our choice when we are in the midst of a fiery trial. Truth stands and is unmoved whether it is believed or not. Just because we don't happen to "feel" our faith does not mean that God isn't faithful. Feelings are the things that are often invalid and in the case of OCD that is the whole problem. We begin to trust in our feelings more than we trust in the unmoveable and unshakeable love of God.
Just one more quote from another of God's servants -
John Bunyan:
"These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with; yet the wisdom of God doth order them for my good."

I thank God for the testimony of faith that Mr. Bunyan shared in his book "Grace Abounding.." While he is home with the Lord his steadfast determination to walk and to continually praise God in and through the torture of his OCD has strengthened my faith tremendously. And that is "a good thing!!"
Mitzi

Excellent post, Mitzi!

Canamer, I totally agree with your perspective. Of course none of us would choose to have OCD, but when we give it all to God and let him use it for His glory, He will! As you say, we trust Him moment by moment, regardless of how we feel. It's right to seek and pray for healing (in fact God has graciously brought that healing to me), but in the mean time we continue to serve Him and praise Him in and through our weakness. Keep pressing on and pressing into God. You will put a smile on His face.

Heather

 

[RPicking]

Keep pressing on and pressing into God. You will put a smile on His face.

I know this is someone elses topic but I just wanted to say that it's hard sometimes to "keep going". That's the encouragement that I have from everyone, but some days (like today ) I'm just downright tired. I know that I personally crave a healing in my life and it might be that very request that God might say, my will isn't to heal you. Ugh!

I want my perspective to change. I want to stop being depressed, I know that's everyones request also.

 

[Sasha37]

I hear you...you know, it's okay to tell God exactly how you feel. He already knows anyway, so just spill. Tell Him how tired you are. If you're mad, tell Him. He wants your honesty more than your well-placed words. This is how David talked to God, and God called him His friend. I would encourage you to do that. He understands your humanity, so don't hide it from Him. This kind of honesty will be a blessing to you. I promise.

 

[RPicking]

I do, believe me. I feel that since God knows exactly how it is, then that is how I'm going to talk to him. I know I can't be angry and mad all the time but sometimes it gets to the point that I can't breathe mentally.