There is hope

[PilgrimsProgress]

Hi, I just signed up for this forum... I have been struggling with these things for about 5 years, on and off, sometimes so severe I didn't think I was going to make it. I have read many posts here, and am so amazed, for lack of a better word, of how similar our experiences are. I have been blessed with the ability to share my struggles with my husband and pastor and many friends, to ask for prayer from them, just to be able to have the strength to press on. But ultimately, I had to keep reminding myself that Jesus, our High Priest, is always making intercession for us... I have so much to say, and so much I want you all to know. I know without a doubt that satan wants to rob us all of the joy we could be having in Christ, I strongly feel like the Lord has shown me that and I am right now experiencing His peace and the assurance I have been fighting for. And now I really want you all to know that there is hope. I am near tears reading some of your posts, because I know how you feel, and I know that the enemy is lying to you. Whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE UP. I would like to be able to help anyone who is going through this. I know for a fact it is hard to ask for prayer when half the time it doesn't even make sense what you are asking prayer for, but I have been there and know how real this is.

 

[Jayangel81]

Welcome to CF, I can tell God was leading you hear, youll find alot of support within the forums

have been blessed with the ability to share my struggles with my husband and pastor and many friends

Im happy you are able to speak with friends, one time I told a friend well lets say I couldnt stay at work. Rumors flew like crazy. Alot of people dont understand, glad that you have people in your life

Keep the faith, God will always be by your side, even when our feelings are completly out of wack

 

[kicker]

Hey. I'm sort of new myself. This stuff is crazy it seems. I'm glad you have found some peace in your life. I've had brief stints of it but lately it seems unbearable. I look forward to you maybe sharing some of what you've been through and how you found peace. Well I better go. Once again welcome to the site. God bless you.

James

 

[picassoui]

we are glad to have you and i know you will be a great blessing just by being here and sharing

 

[BeccaLynn]

Yeah! Another compassionate and understanding soul is very welcome. I'm so glad to hear that you are experiencing God's peace. That does offer hope to me, as well as others I think.

Rebecca

 

[PilgrimsProgress]

Yeah! Another compassionate and understanding soul is very welcome. I'm so glad to hear that you are experiencing God's peace. That does offer hope to me, as well as others I think.

Rebecca

Thank you all for your wonderful welcome! (I am trying to figure out how to reply to these posts, I hope I am doing it right!) I know that when I was right in the middle of my most intense battles with this, that it did bring me much hope when I read about other's experiencing victory. (I had been in a similar forum a few years back, but don't know where it is now.) I know that these things are so intense and that it is incredibly difficult to explain these things to anyone who hasn't gone through it. I want so badly to be able to convey that for anyone who might be feeling hopeless, that this is a lie from the enemy. I want to write more and will, I want to pray about what I write, because I really want to be able to accurately convey the hope that the Lord is giving me... I have three children and am a stay at home homeschooling Mom, so it is hard for me to spend too much time at the computer, but I have been praying!! One thing that I know the Lord showed me, is that ultimately, He is the only One who can understand... I was reading the account of Jesus being tempted in the wildnerness and Him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and I realized that He went through so much in the way of the torment (I hope I'm not choosing a wrong word here, I just don't know how else to say it)... and that He can bring us through... we need to cling to Him even when it feels like there is no hope, even when everything in your mind is telling you that somehow you are the one person who this is not going to work for... and the countless other lies, that I can see from reading several posts, that many of us have been told the same exact lies from the enemy.... I will write more soon. Lord bless you all,,,

 

[Bryan519]

Well said PP! Welcome!

 

[Christian Sojourner]

Welcome, Pilgrim's Progress. Thanks for the encouraging post. By the way, a great book by a sufferer of OCD - The Pilgrim's Progress that is.

 

[ArmorofGod18]

So there is Hope?

 

[BeccaLynn]

Yes, there is absolutely hope! In fact, I was reading today in Hebrews 6:17-20 about the hope we have in God. It says in v. 18 "by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for the refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us." And verse 19 says that "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil." God is our hope. He is sure and steadfast, cannot lie, is our refuge, and offers us strong comfort. Ocd tends to concentrate on our fears and doubts. I know that it's extremely hard to feel hope when fear and doubt crowd everything else out. Lots of times I have to just read verses that encourage me as opposed to those that ignite fear within me. When I'm more built up, I can then tend to not "freak out" about the verses that used to would have torn me up inside. Thank you Pilgrim's Progress for sharing with us about how God is giving you hope. Also, I am planning on homeschooling my son this year for the first time. He will be in third grade. I have worked in a local school system for eleven years as an assistant, but this is such new ground for me. I hope it's okay if I come to you for advice sometimes!

Rebecca

 

[PilgrimsProgress]

Hi Beccalynne,

I just want to say that you encourage me so much!!... I have read through alot of your posts, and it's amazing to me how much I can relate to the things you have gone through... That is so great to hear you have a 3rd grader that you are going to homeschool!! The ages of my kids are, Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade!! So I will also be homeschooling a third grader this year!! Yes, you certainly may ask advice on homeschooling if you ever need it, I will be of as best help as I can!

In Him,
Laura

 

[gracealone]

HI and a warm welcome to you Pilgrim. Is Bunyan a hero of faith to you? He is to me. I am so thankful for his transparent account of his struggles over doubt, blasphemous thoughts and the fear that nearly overwhelmed him. Sometimes I actually ask God to somehow convey my thanks to Him for the help and encouragement I get from his work "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners."
Aren't you glad that God has let us look in and on our Saviors pain and agony at Gethesemane? That is there for a reason.
So glad to have you join us and even more glad for your heartfelt prayers for those on this forum.
I'll be praying for you too.
Mitzi

Thank you all for your wonderful welcome! (I am trying to figure out how to reply to these posts, I hope I am doing it right!) I know that when I was right in the middle of my most intense battles with this, that it did bring me much hope when I read about other's experiencing victory. (I had been in a similar forum a few years back, but don't know where it is now.) I know that these things are so intense and that it is incredibly difficult to explain these things to anyone who hasn't gone through it. I want so badly to be able to convey that for anyone who might be feeling hopeless, that this is a lie from the enemy. I want to write more and will, I want to pray about what I write, because I really want to be able to accurately convey the hope that the Lord is giving me... I have three children and am a stay at home homeschooling Mom, so it is hard for me to spend too much time at the computer, but I have been praying!! One thing that I know the Lord showed me, is that ultimately, He is the only One who can understand... I was reading the account of Jesus being tempted in the wildnerness and Him praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and I realized that He went through so much in the way of the torment (I hope I'm not choosing a wrong word here, I just don't know how else to say it)... and that He can bring us through... we need to cling to Him even when it feels like there is no hope, even when everything in your mind is telling you that somehow you are the one person who this is not going to work for... and the countless other lies, that I can see from reading several posts, that many of us have been told the same exact lies from the enemy.... I will write more soon. Lord bless you all,,,

 

[BeccaLynn]

Laura,

Thanks so much for your kind response. If it's okay, I would love to send you a private message with some homeschooling questions. I've learned a lot over the last couple of days, but it can seem overwhelming at times. I'm so thankful to have people who are offering me advice.

Rebecca

 

[PilgrimsProgress]

Hi Rebecca,

Sure it ok with me if you send a private message... I don't know too much about private messaging, how would I know if I get a private message? I don't know how to send or receive a private message...

Well I needed to take all my own advice (again!!)... I had a pretty bad flair up of all the thoughts again!! I know I usually see these things as spiritual warfare, but I know it must be that satan will play on the ocd weakness... I had you all in my prayers as I was crying out to the Lord for myself...

I didn't get on the computer at all yesterday, and today reading through new posts, I am just so blessed the Lord led me to this forum...

But praise God He is faithful even when we are faithless, He will never leave us or forsake us, and I am once again resting in His arms... a little wiped out from all the mental exhaustion it takes to go through all that, but resting none the less!!

Talk to you later!!

In His Grace,
Laura