I’ve come to see fear of anything as a lack of trust in God. If we think that we are in charge then we aren’t trusting that God is in charge.
Fear of flying is one example. If you won’t get on a plane because you are afraid it will crash, you are putting your life in your own hands and taking it out of God’s hands. You are not understanding that you will live as long as you will live only because God is in charge.
You did not cause your own birth. Likewise, your death is out of your hands. Your birth and your death and everything in between is in God’s hands.
Obsessive compulsive behavior is another example. In this behavior you are showing that you believe that your safety and well being is in your hands, and not in God’s. In this situation, you may think that if you turn off the lights a certain way, you will be safe. Or you may think that if you drink tea on Wednesdays instead of coffee, you will have a good day at work. It is all about ritual and not about faith.
And perhaps that is what is at the heart of the problem with church these days. Too much ritual and not enough faith.
betsybeadhead 
As someone who was recently diagnosed with OCD I find this post highly insensitive. I am a Christian. I have full faith in God that he can deliver us from our fears. But having a mental disorder does not mean I have no faith in God. The thing about OCD is that it is completely irrational. And most people know that the thoughts and obsessions they have aren’t actually going to relieve the anxiety they have or keep something bad from happening. But we can’t help it. Something beyond our control keeps us doing and thinking the things we do. It is so hard to explain just how trapped I feel in the routines I have to do daily to “feel safe”. God knows what I’m going through and he can help me, yes. But it is a process. it is not something I can just turn off by saying God can take care of it. Believe me, I’ve tried. You don’t know how many times I have broke down because it seemed like I couldn’t give it to God. But I do. I give it to him daily. And I still struggle. Mental illness is beyond our comprehension. It is just something that doesn’t make sense. That only God can truly know all the ins and outs of.
Just because someone has a mental disorder does not mean they have “little” faith.
Just something to consider.
-RMR
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What do I know? I’m no expert. I have bipolar disorder. I’m a recovering addict. I used to be obese.
I know what I know from my experience. And I know if we see ourselves and helpless victims, then we are.
Behavior modification helps. It is a step in the right direction.
Also, what helped me a lot is every time I noticed myself doing something I felt I shouldn’t be doing, that was unhealthy for me, I have thanks to God for it. I didn’t fight against it. I gave thanks just like Jonah in the whale gave thanks. In part I gave thanks because like a bell it called me to prayer. It reminded me to pray. I also gave thanks because it reminded me that God was working through it.
Blessings to you on your journey. I will pray for you, as I hope you will pray for me.
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