Biblical Strategy #1: Endure

I write this blog because I want to help my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering from unwanted/intrusive thoughts, confusion in their faith, and just a lack of peace. For some, they have come to the conclusion to call this obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I can’t say I have all the answers (only God does in His Word!). I can only offer my limited perspective and some helpful Bible verses that can help you.

I wish I could cure you (and me) of this, but I can’t. That’s where I have to let go of my control, and perhaps you do too. It’s okay, though, because we are in good hands. Jesus is there for us with hands that took severe piercing for our sake. We are safe in Him.

If you are like me (someone who struggles with scrupulosity, or “Religious OCD”), you have struggled with feelings of forgiveness—that God can’t forgive you. You may even question if the Bible applies to You. In this time of frustration, you may be extremely weary. You are looking for answers, and you are likely coming up short.

For those of us with “scruples” (what an awful name—which actually suits this condition well because it is, indeed, awful), how do you move forward in your faith when it is constantly being attacked? How do you move forward when you don’t even think God accepts you? How do you fix something that makes no sense to you (and feels out of your hands)?

These are all legitimate questions as they apply to the struggle you are going through. But here, I’d like to offer an approach to gradually waking away from OCD into a more balanced, Christian life. There is no doubt that God is using this season to refine you…you are under some severe construction (at least, that’s what I believe). There are some lessons that can only be learned after the test. There are so many strategies I would like to convey to you that have helped me. For the sake of time, I think it would be best to take this one strategy at a time. Here is the first Biblical strategy I’d like to introduce to you: Endure.

Endure

I’d say enduring is for those moments when the OCD is at its highest scale. Only you and I know what I mean by this. But when you are being intensely spiritually attacked, I think this is often the best option because likely during this time, you won’t know what to do.

If you look at the Bible, you’d be amazed how many verses mention about enduring:

• “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
• “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
• “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:36
• “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4

And there are other verses as well. This is to just get you started. Don’t you see the importance of enduring yet? I challenge you to highlight/block in every time you see the word “Endure” in the Bible. In fact, here is a challenge…

*Challenge: Read 2 Timothy (there’s only four chapters) and highlight every time you see the word “endure.” You will be amazed at what you find.

Now what example should I give you about the importance of endurance (remember, I’m preaching to myself in these blogs too!)? Aw, I have one! It is an example straight from God’s nature. What wonderful things are revealed in His creation!

The Story of the Pearl…

A pearl doesn’t just happen. It takes time. You don’t just open an oyster shell and find this beautiful gem without a process.

Pearls are formed when an “intruder,” like a grain of sand, slips in the oyster. To protect itself from irritation, it will cover this uninvited guest with layers of nacre. This process repeats itself with layers and layers covering the original substance until a beautiful shiny white pearl is formed. It takes about three years to form a good pearl!

Interestingly, there are pearl farmers who basically jumpstart this process by embedding a grain of sand within the mollusk.

Can you just picture God doing the same thing with us? He may let (notice I did not say cause) the enemy into our lives to produce a problem; however, God always remains faithful. For some of us, it may seem like a constant irritation (to say the least) to deal with some of the things we go through. Whether it is unwanted thoughts, injustice, betrayal, or fears. But remember the pearl. It takes time and friction for God to produce in us the righteousness He desires. When we endure for His sake, we are forming a pearl within ourselves. God can use that pearl to demonstrate His magnificent ability to turn bad into good.