Resources

Some of these resources deal with scrupulosity or OCD, some cover mental suffering more generally, and some don’t directly relate to either topic at all, but they have all been personally helpful resources.

Articles, Audio & Websites

Books

  • A Quiet Mind to Suffer With: Mental Illness, Trauma, and the Death of Christ (John Andrew Bryant)
    • A hard but helpful memoir about OCD and what it looks like to grow in dependence on Christ rather dependence on compulsions.
  • Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (John Bunyan)
    • A spiritual autobiography detailing Bunyan’s personal struggle with scrupulosity. This book was simultaneously triggering and encouraging to me: triggering because it brought up specific intrusive thoughts and encouraging because it was the first thing I read that made me realize I’m not alone.
  • Peace over Perfection: Enjoying a Good God When You Feel You’re Never Enough (Faith Chang)
    • This book deals with the themes of Christian perfectionism and how the Lord views us amid the struggle: “He is far more merciful, righteous, and patient than we may have imagined.”
  • This Beautiful Truth (Sarah Clarkson)
    • Though this book is not about OCD, Sarah weaves her own struggle with it into the themes of the book, reflecting on how it is only the beauty of God’s goodness—through the gospel, through his creation, through the arts, through his people, and through every other good thing—that is powerful enough to break through the darkness of our suffering and remind us of hope beyond our imagination.
  • The Doubting Disease (Joseph W. Ciarrocchi)
    • A helpful explanation of scrupulosity, though not from a Protestant perspective. Most helpful to me was the detailed explanation of and treatment for OCD, which helped grow my understanding.
  • Spurgeon’s Sorrows: Realistic Hope for those who Suffer from Depression (Zack Eswine)
    • Another honest book from a fellow sufferer telling the story of another sufferer: Charles Spurgeon. One of the best resources I’ve read on depression and mental suffering in general.
  • A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Phillip Keller)
    • A detailed, insightful look “into the life and character of sheep—and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. “
  • The Prodigal God (Timothy Keller)
    • A look at the abounding grace of God toward both sons in Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son.
  • When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend (Mark Meynell)
    • An honest reflection from a pastor and fellow sufferer on living with depression, coupled with practical encouragement and tools.
  • On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living (Alan Noble)
    • Though not specifically about OCD, Noble has experienced scrupulosity. This book takes a balanced perspective with both compassion for mental suffering and encouragement to look upward and outward, viewing our lives as a gift from God and an opportunity to bear witness to his love and goodness in the midst of our darkness.
  • Gentle & Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sufferers and Sinners (Dane Ortlund)
    • This book is one I return to periodically. It corrects my faulty view of Jesus as reluctantly gracious with the biblically accurate view of Jesus as abounding in steadfast love and mercy. Likewise, see Thomas Goodwin’s The Heart of Christ, the inspiration for Ortlund’s book.
  • Can Christianity Cure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? (Ian Osborn)
    • A helpful explanation of OCD in general through the lens of Christianity. Most encouraging for me were the specific examples from the lives of other strugglers such as Martin Luther, John Bunyan, and others.
  • God’s Grace in Your Suffering (David Powlison)
    • A short, practical book that helps you see how God enters into your suffering with grace deeper than we can imagine.
  • When Strivings Cease (Ruth Chou Simons)
    • We may believe that we are not only saved by grace, but also kept by grace, and that nothing we can do can change God’s view of us, either negatively or positively—but how well do we live out this truth? This book challenged the assumptions I so often make in my day-to-day life about how God views me and what role I play in securing my place in Christ, reminding me of his immense grace.
  • Assurance (William Smith)
    • Many resources on Christian assurance can be counterproductive to those with scrupulosity since they don’t account for the particulars of OCD, but I have found this devotional to be an encouragement as it focuses on Christ’s responsibility in our salvation.
  • Prayer in the Night (Tish Harrison Warren)
    • This book traces the nighttime prayer of Compline to explore the reality of our suffering, our need, and God’s presence. It is an honest look at the hardship we all face and the light of God’s comfort in the midst of it.

Music

  • Grace Abounding: Songs of Mercy for Seasons of Doubt
    • A Spotify playlist composed of songs that have been personally encouraging and helpful, whether they engage deeply with doubt, uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering; bring their protests and questions to God; or highlight God’s character and affirm Christ’s heart for his suffering saints. These songs have carried me through many dark nights and anxious days, putting words to my experience and orienting me toward the Lord. I hope they do the same for you.

Poetry & Prayers

  • Every Moment Holy Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3.
    • Prewritten prayers have been a helpful tools for me. When prayer has been too hard and when Scripture has felt too anxiety-inducing, prayers written by saints past and present have held me up and given me a way to speak to God. The Every Moment Holy collection has been a favorite.
  • Help My Unbelief: Devotional Poems & Prayers

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