Christian and Struggling with OCD?
Olivia’s Story Offers Biblical Hope
Olivia loved Jesus deeply. She studied her Bible, served faithfully at church, and prayed daily. But beneath the surface, she was trapped in a cycle she couldn’t name.
Her thoughts raced with what-ifs, not just occasionally, but all day long. What if I didn’t really repent? What if that prayer wasn’t sincere? What if I accidentally offended God?
She didn’t feel rebellious. She felt terrified.
Over time, her compulsions increased. She began re-reading her text messages several times before sending them. She washed her hands repeatedly after shaking hands at church. She rearranged the throw pillows on her couch until they looked symmetrical.
What she didn’t realize then was that she was experiencing a form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—a mental and spiritual battle that had latched onto her desire to do things right before God.
OCD Statistics
OCD affects about 1.2% of U.S. adults annually and 1–2% of children and teens, with onset often beginning in late childhood or adolescence, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
In addition, up to 90% of adults with OCD have at least one other mental health condition, like anxiety or depression.
It’s also common for individuals to experience multiple subtypes of OCD—such as contamination, religious obsessions, or “just right” compulsions—either at the same time or cycling over time. A large epidemiological study based on the Yale‑Brown Obsessive‑Compulsive Scale found that a substantial number of individuals with OCD report two or more obsession or compulsion types, such as contamination, symmetry, religious/moral, and checking themes.
Olivia’s 3 OCD Themes
Olivia’s experience wasn’t limited to one theme of OCD. It showed up in three distinct ways:
Religious OCD (Scrupulosity) – Driven by fears of offending God, Olivia repeatedly confessed sins she wasn’t sure she committed. She prayed the same prayers over and over, longing for assurance that she was “really forgiven.”
Just Right OCD – If the blinds weren’t even or her handwriting looked uneven, Olivia couldn’t focus until everything “felt right.” She wasn’t being picky—she was battling inner distress that wouldn’t let her go until the task was redone.
Contamination OCD – She feared touching things in public spaces. Grocery carts, doorknobs, pews at church—all triggered the belief that she could be responsible for someone else getting sick.
These weren’t quirks or habits. They were compulsions—behaviors Olivia felt she had to do to silence a fear or correct a perceived danger.
And though she trusted Christ for salvation, OCD began whispering doubts about God's love and her standing with Him.
The OCD Cycle at Work
Like many Christians with OCD, Olivia’s mind felt like a battlefield. Here’s how the cycle played out, over and over again:
Intrusive thought (Obsession): What if I just sinned and didn’t confess it?
Anxiety: A deep fear would rise in her—urgent, convincing. I have to make this right… now.
Compulsion (Mental or Physical): She’d pray the same prayer multiple times, review conversations in her mind, or scrub her hands raw to feel “clean” again.
Temporary relief: A wave of calm and a dopamine hit. But it never lasted long.
The obsession returned—stronger. And the cycle would start again.
Step by Step: Olivia’s Path to Freedom
In God’s kindness, Olivia connected with a biblical counselor who recognized the patterns and introduced her to a simple, biblically grounded response: the 5R Method.
Step 1: Recognize
The first step was to name what was happening. Olivia learned to say, “This is an obsession.” So when Olivia felt the urge to confess again or re-clean her hands, she learned to pause and say:
“This is OCD. This is not the Holy Spirit. This is not who I am.”
Naming the pattern helped Oliva interrupt the cycle.
📖 “We take every thought captive to obey Christ.” —2 Corinthians 10:5
Step 2: Reject
Next, Olivia began to spot the lies underneath her compulsions:
“If I don’t confess again, God will be angry with me.”
“If I don’t clean this perfectly, I’ll hurt someone, and I’ll be at fault.”
“If I send a message with a typo, I’ve failed.”
Instead of agreeing with the fear, she rejected it and held it up to the truth of Scripture:
“My standing with God isn’t based on perfect performance. It’s based on Christ’s finished work.”
📖 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” —Romans 8:1
Step 3: Replace
This step helped Olivia break the automatic response.
Delay – When she felt the urge to rewash, rephrase, or re-pray, she waited 30 seconds. That short pause weakened the compulsion and gave her a choice.
Pray – During the delay, she prayed from faith, not fear:
“God, You are near. I trust You to help me walk in truth, not obsession.”
📖 “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, I will help you.” —Isaiah 41:10
Obey – Then she did one simple, God-honoring, productive action: folded laundry, encouraged her son, and sent the message without rereading it. These small steps reminded her that her faith could move forward, even in discomfort.
This wasn’t about ignoring her fears. It was about choosing obedience over obsession.
Step 4: Rehearse
Olivia tracked her responses in a notebook. Each entry was brief:
The trigger
The lie she rejected
The truth she prayed
The step she obeyed
Seeing her small victories on paper helped her notice something powerful: even on days when anxiety lingered, she was no longer giving OCD the final word.
📖 “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
—John 8:32
Step 5: Rejoice
At first, Olivia thought success meant feeling calm. But her counselor gently reminded her that feelings don’t measure faithfulness.
Even waiting 30 seconds before washing her hands became a victory. Even sending a slightly imperfect message became a reason to praise.
📖 “For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness… and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.”
—Titus 2:11–12
She began to rejoice in living by faith, not by having a false feeling of certainty and control. And over time, her obsessions and compulsions decreased in frequency and intensity. Her OCD fears no longer ruled her.
Her Story Isn't Over
Olivia still faces OCD triggers. Some days are harder than others. But now, she knows what to do when those thoughts come knocking.
She knows her identity is not in her symptoms, but in her Savior.
OCD may speak loudly, but Jesus speaks louder.
And He calls her loved, valued, and free.
You’re Not Alone. And You’re Not Trapped.
If you see yourself in Olivia’s story, please hear this: You are not broken. You are not faithless. And you are not alone.
OCD does not get the final say.
Jesus does.
✨ Dr. Lucy Ann Moll specializes in counseling Christians with anxiety and OCD from a biblical perspective. Her approach is compassionate, practical, and grounded in truth.
Schedule your complimentary phone consult today:
👉 https://LucyAnnMoll.as.me
There is real hope. There is lasting help.
And there is freedom in Christ—even from OCD.