Behind those who struggle with obsessive thoughts and the subsequent compulsions that tempt them towards perceived safety, there is often a heart that desires control and certainty. Counselees who identify with the psychological label Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often say that they will not be safe unless they engage the fearful and unwanted thoughts that appear to plague them all the time.1For a biblical view of OCD, see these resources: https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/articles/gods-faithfulness-experienced-in-obsessive-compulsive-disorder/?srsltid=AfmBOopbEKI4rCFrVdLuR8KkQCDWBLBGWuwXVwa5yhtdI8H6olGxOlq- https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/podcast-episodes/scrupulosity-feat-brent-osterberg/?srsltid=AfmBOoroy6xquBJ02S6eIbS-b8w2nEom6CXEWaaLsclludx6BEOcex5w They’ve come to believe in the lie that they need to fix and figure out those nagging, repetitive ruminations that continue to resurface. The thoughts, fueled by their own inner desires, lie to them, telling them that they must keep themselves safe and they must find the answers from within. Often, it feels like they can find no rest until they find some measure of certainty that the things they fear will not happen or that they can stop it from happening.
In some ways, the root of what fuels OCD for so many is not that much different from the rest of us. It seems as though it is the sinful heart posture of humans to want control and to be in charge of our own well-being. We desire to know for certain things that only a sovereign Lord can, and we find it difficult to relinquish these stubborn longings to Him (Romans 11:33-36). How can a counselee struggling with OCD begin to change and learn to trust in God rather than relying on themselves, especially when their instincts urge them to do the opposite? Psalm three and four offer a glimpse into the private fears and thoughts of King David and give us timeless remedies for those plagued with obsessive thoughts and compulsions.
Psalm Three – A Morning Prayer of Trust in God
In Psalm three, we see that King David was well acquainted with being hunted down and pursued by his enemies. He describes how they were rising up against him and increasing while he feared that there may be no way out (verses 1-2). I love how the Psalms are relevant to our struggles and give voice to our personal experiences. I recently had a counselee tell me how deeply she resonated with David’s description in Psalm three, particularly regarding the unwanted and recurring fearful thoughts that plagued her mind. She felt as though her obsessive thoughts were a ruthless and unrelenting enemy hunting her, and she feared there was no escape.
However, she went on to share with me the hope and encouragement she found in David’s words. In verse three, David declares the safety that he knows he can find in God alone. He is not looking to himself or those around him to keep him safe, but he confidently tells us that the Lord is his shield of safety surrounding him. David boldly and expectantly cries out to the Lord in his distress, and he writes that the Lord faithfully answered him (verse 4). David was so confident in God’s protection of him and the safety found in the Lord alone that he says that he was able and willing to lie down and sleep without fear, because he knew that the Lord would take care of him (verse 5).
Safety in Sleep
I love how the picture of sleep is so practical and metaphorical at the same time. It seems as though as the sun sets we can be tempted to become more fearful and anxious. For those who struggle with OCD, nighttime and sleep can be a time of increased obsessive thoughts, rumination, and fears. Counselees might find themselves facing sleepless nights and increased nighttime distress. However, I think that David’s writing about sleep here represents something even more poignant and relevant than a mere discussion on sleep for those struggling with OCD. Let’s consider what nighttime and sleep represent. When we lie down and close our eyes to fall asleep, we are entering into a state where we have no control. We are not aware of the dangers around us or able to protect ourselves from them. We have no certainty of what will happen while we are asleep or if we will wake up. But David is able to put these thoughts and fears aside because he knows that it is the Lord who will sustain him in the night, and he is able to say with confidence, “I will not be afraid” (verse 6). His confidence is placed securely and squarely upon a God whom He knows has the power to shield him, sustain him, and save him.
Psalm Four An Evening Prayer of Trust in God
David continues with similar themes and promises in Psalm four. We see in this chapter more of the reasons for which David is able to place his trust in God and not be afraid. He boldly and expectantly prays to God, asking Him for relief from his distress, knowing that the Lord hears his requests (verses 1, 3). He looks to God, despite what the naysayers are asserting, for the Lord’s blessings, peace, and joy (verses 6-7). With assurance, he knows that the gladness and peace in his heart do not come from the right circumstances but from a transformed and trusting heart (verse 7). Therefore, he is able to declare his safety and confidence in God again in verse eight. He says that it is in peace that he is able to lie down and sleep because it is God alone who makes him abide in safety (verse 8). David has learned not to look inward to himself or outward to others for this safety and peace, but to look upward to his Creator and Sustainer.
Lessons for OCD
The dependence and trust that David has in the Lord reveals the transformation that needs to happen in the heart of the OCD sufferer. The temptation for these counselees is to find safety within oneself or within a system they have created as a means of protecting themselves. With God’s help, they must start by identifying and confessing how they have made control and certainty an idol and begin instead to find their safety in the Lord alone (Psalm 62:5-8). They must learn to trust God more and trust themselves less.
OCD regularly presents some kind of perceived danger in the mind of the counselee. When the obsessive thoughts intrude, the counselee makes a habit of believing the thought, meditating on the thought, and then trying to make the resulting fear and anxiety go away with a self-directed compulsion. Their longing for control and certainty fuels this cycle, making it difficult to resist and change. However, there is wonderful hope for freedom and healing when the counselee begins to recognize their own sinful desires and how these idols are fueling the recurring thoughts. As they begin to see that their desires for control and certainty are at the root of their obsessions and compulsions, then they can actively start to crucify those desires (Romans 8:13), and instead learn to place their trust in a God who controls all things and has given us the healing and hope we need in His Word (Jeremiah 17:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 56:3). Safety for someone struggling with OCD is found when they surrender fully to the care of a God who knows all things with infinite wisdom, loves unconditionally, and possesses the power to work all things together for our good and His glory (Psalm 91:1-2).
