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Jesuslove70708 said:

Im
So de motivated I thought so people on the form other than that my pastor he doesn’t really call Other things I do I just sometimes join Bible studies but it’s hard to stick to a plan or anything

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Can you talk to a different pastor? Or join a new study? Maybe you just need to mix it up. Other pastors might be willing to talk and visit more. Or call a different church?

Jesuslove70708 said:

Im going to start new paln on july 1

what should be in it

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You're starting a new Bible plan? I would try to focus on God's love as much as possible. Sometimes it can be difficult for us humans to grasp that God is faithful to us and loves us when it seems like we have to earn the love and commitment of the world.

I'd say just aim for five minutes a day to start. Don't make it all or nothing. Even if you can't find the motivation to spend twenty or thirty minutes with God, five minutes better than nothing.

Jesuslove70708 said:

So if this doesn’t belong in this thread just tell me I’ll change it but I am 15 and in child services no one to talk to about this problem please read another threads about this issue but technically it’s about unbelief and I think it’s about OCD please just don’t say one thing and leave because that’s what’s been happening please read another thread it so that’s really it I’m just worried that I don’t believe and I’m not that I don’t care that’s what I’m worried about that’s the basic of it read another threads to learn more sorry I’m a little tired right now I had kind of a bad day

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If that is true, why does your profile page say you were born in 1977 and are 44 years old?

subtlecollision said:

Hey! It seems to me like you do believe in God! Why else would you be on this Christian forum asking for assurance of your faith? The Bible teaches that believers don't search for God. Since you are searching for God, that seems to indicate to me that you are a believer and you have genuine interest in your relationship with God.

It sounds to me that you have a fear of not believing in God. And it seems like that comes from your OCD. Try to separate yourself more from your OCD. Maybe give it a name so that you can think of it as something separate from yourself. If you could get some therapy, that would be great. Just know that it is your OCD causing you to feel this way, ok? I've definitely been through some difficult times with my OCD. But it will get better. Even if it doesn't seem that way now.

If you have specific doubts about Christianity, feel free to explore them. There are lots of apologetic websites out there that can help. But to me, it sounds more like you're dealing with OCD.

Blessings!

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This persons profile page says they are 44 years old

Jaxxi said:

This persons profile page says they are 44 years old

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what do you think is more likely to be a lie: that OP is 15, in Child Protective Services and struggling with some serious mental health issues, or the birthday they gave when signing up to an online forum?

to the OP: I haven't managed to make much sense of what exactly you don't believe or what you're struggling with. what are the other threads that you mention in the first post? I'm struggling with my own mental problems which make me doubt my faith and salvation, so maybe I'm not the best person to give you advice, but in my case, pretty much the only thing that works is prayer. have you tried praying? you don't have to do anything special, like using 'big words' or saying 'what you think He would like to hear', just be honest and tell God exactly how you feel, what your fears are, what your struggles are, and ask Him for help. I don't know much about God, but I do know that He cannot lie, so, logically, that must mean that He loves and appreciates honesty. If you're honest, I do not believe God will not listen to you.

I've seen others suggest finding someone to talk to. this is not a bad suggestion, and it could well help, but one of the ways scrupulosity, or religious-OCD manifests, is that the affected person constantly feels compelled to consult religious authorities about their insecurities and such. this alleviates the problem for a while, but the next stage in the ilness is thinking 'what if they're wrong?', 'what if I haven't explained it well enough?', 'what if they didn't understand what I meant?' and you're back to square one. I'm not saying this to discourage you from finding someone to talk to about your issues; I'm only telling you to not put your faith into thinking that talking to someone will instantly fix you and to expect that it may well not help at all (such as in my case). the only way I know how to get help and be sure that I'm getting what I need is prayer, so that would be my first port of call if I were you.

in any case, I wish you all the best and hopefully you will come back and let us know how you're getting on

Jesuslove70708 said:

yea i pray but it has gotten worse

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can I just ask what are you praying for exactly? healing? deliverance? guidance?

when I started praying about this specifically, I had no idea what these thoughts meant. I thought I was under demonic influences or something, so I started by praying for clarity on how to address these thoughts.

the first answer to my prayers came through these very forums, when I 'accidentally' (I've put it in quote marks because nothing really happens by accident - it is all directed by God) stumbled across this sub-forum dedicated to mental health and found out about scrupulosity and could put a name to what I was facing.

the second answer came through God guiding me to a new church, where, seemingly by coincidence, they were starting a study series on salvation and how we are saved, things I had not heard or understood before (most of my obsessions are about salvation and confession of sin, namely who we confess our sins to and when we have to make amends to others for our sins). since then, my obsessions have diminished, albeit not completely.

that being said, I don't think God's finished with me yet, so I keep praying about it. I have no doubt that, in the end, it will all work out.

I'm saying this to convey the fact that I believe, in my case, God is using my sickness to teach me things (for example, I've learned A LOT of things about sin etc. that I most likely would not have learned had it not been for my sickness) and build me up. that's why I place so much importance on prayer. but I understand that it may not be the case for everyone out there, so don't give up on other options like therapy or medication.

I don't know how to help you - personally, I would start with praying for clarity on why this is happening to you and guidance on what my next steps should be. pray for God to put someone in your life who you can talk to and get help from.

other than that, I want to encourage you to be brave and have faith in God. one of my favourite verses is Romans 8:28 :

'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.' (Romans 8:28, KJV)

have faith and believe that, regardless of how you feel and how dark the night ahead might look, God still has control over every thing.

sab94868 said:

what do you think is more likely to be a lie: that OP is 15, in Child Protective Services and struggling with some serious mental health issues, or the birthday they gave when signing up to an online forum?

to the OP: I haven't managed to make much sense of what exactly you don't believe or what you're struggling with. what are the other threads that you mention in the first post? I'm struggling with my own mental problems which make me doubt my faith and salvation, so maybe I'm not the best person to give you advice, but in my case, pretty much the only thing that works is prayer. have you tried praying? you don't have to do anything special, like using 'big words' or saying 'what you think He would like to hear', just be honest and tell God exactly how you feel, what your fears are, what your struggles are, and ask Him for help. I don't know much about God, but I do know that He cannot lie, so, logically, that must mean that He loves and appreciates honesty. If you're honest, I do not believe God will not listen to you.

I've seen others suggest finding someone to talk to. this is not a bad suggestion, and it could well help, but one of the ways scrupulosity, or religious-OCD manifests, is that the affected person constantly feels compelled to consult religious authorities about their insecurities and such. this alleviates the problem for a while, but the next stage in the ilness is thinking 'what if they're wrong?', 'what if I haven't explained it well enough?', 'what if they didn't understand what I meant?' and you're back to square one. I'm not saying this to discourage you from finding someone to talk to about your issues; I'm only telling you to not put your faith into thinking that talking to someone will instantly fix you and to expect that it may well not help at all (such as in my case). the only way I know how to get help and be sure that I'm getting what I need is prayer, so that would be my first port of call if I were you.

in any case, I wish you all the best and hopefully you will come back and let us know how you're getting on

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I apologize. I guess you are right. That makes sense.

Jesuslove70708 said:

Does any one have any more Advise

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Remember, you are saved by grace through faith. You don't have to earn or work for God's love.

It really seems to me that you are a Christian since you are on this forum wanting to get closer to God. If you weren't a Christian, you wouldn't want to get closer to him.

You can rest in the truth that salvation is by grace through faith, not works. And salvation can never be lost!