OCD + Jesus

Two words you don’t usually see together.

It took me 27 years to realize that my constant internal struggles with intrusive thoughts, chronic guilt, and feelings of impending doom weren’t because I was a terrible person, they were the result of a real condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

OCD likes to convince you that you’re awful for the thoughts that uncontrollably pop into your head. It tries to convince you that the worst fears you can imagine will happen… if you don’t perform a certain compulsion or task.

OCD comes in many forms: religious, contamination, relationship, and more. It’s estimated that 1–3% of people suffer from OCD, yet common understanding of the condition is limited. You’ve probably heard someone say, “I’m so OCD,” referring to being a neat freak or arranging pencils in a certain order. I said that too, long before I realized the constant mental battle I was living with was actual OCD.

How OCD Showed Up in My Life

From a young age, I remember trying to focus in school while praying constantly that my parents would be safe, that they wouldn’t be harmed or involved in an accident. If I didn’t pray “enough” or until it felt “right,” I feared the worst would happen. And if something bad did happen, I blamed myself.

OCD doesn’t just affect thoughts, it can force physical compulsions, too. For me, that looked like:

• Rinsing my dog’s water bowl multiple times to make sure I hadn’t poisoned it.

• Checking the trash repeatedly to ensure I hadn’t thrown away something important.

• Making sure household items, like the stove or hair tools, were off or unplugged, or else my home might burn down.

In relationships, OCD made me replay conversations over and over, analyzing tone, words, or actions to see if I had done something wrong. I obsessed over memories, afraid I would forget something important, and worried the other person would leave or be angry with me.

Compulsions and Ruminations

OCD works in a cycle of intrusive thoughts (ruminatons) and compulsions.

• Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, upsetting ideas or fears that pop into your mind.

• Compulsions are behaviors we feel forced to perform to “neutralize” the thoughts or prevent imagined disasters.

This constant mental loop is exhausting. It can make you feel trapped, guilty, or unworthy.

Jesus Offers Peace and Understanding

The good news is that Jesus sees us in the middle of our mental battles. He knows what it’s like to carry heavy burdens, and He offers peace and freedom.

Here’s what Jesus says to those struggling with OCD and intrusive thoughts:

• We are loved and accepted, even when our minds feel out of control:
  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1

• We can cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us:
  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

• We don’t have to perform rituals or perfect ourselves to earn His favor:
  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

• We can take every thought captive and surrender it to Him:
  “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5

• God is near to the brokenhearted and those who feel crushed by fear or guilt:
  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
  

Jesus doesn’t call us to a life of fear or obsessive control. He calls us to rest, trust, and freedom, even when our minds feel like they’re spiraling.

A quick prayer for peace

Lord Jesus,
You know the thoughts that swirl in my mind and the fears that weigh on my heart. You see my struggles, my compulsions, and the guilt that tells me I’m not enough. Help me to remember that I am loved, accepted, and forgiven in You.

Calm my anxious thoughts and quiet the spirals that exhaust me. Teach me to cast my worries on You, trusting that You care for me (1 Peter 5:7). Give me the courage to take every thought captive and surrender it to You (2 Corinthians 10:5), and remind me that Your peace is greater than my fear.

May I rest in the truth that You are close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and that in You, I am never alone. Help me to walk in freedom, not in fear, and to lean on Your love every day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.