Why Do I Get Intrusive or Blasphemous Thoughts?

Intrusive thoughts often feel isolating because they hit topics you’d never say out loud: blasphemy, disgusting imagery, violent flashes, fears about your salvation, or “What if God hates me?”

Then the second wave hits: shame. You start checking yourself. Replaying it. Analyzing it. “Was that me? Did I agree with it? Did I just commit the unforgivable sin?”

That verse doesn’t say, “I never had disturbing thoughts.” It says: when they multiplied, God comforted him. That’s what we’re aiming for: comfort and clarity, not panic and self-hatred.

An intrusive thought is a thought that:

• shows up uninvited,
• feels unwanted and disturbing,
• often repeats or “sticks,”
• creates anxiety, disgust, or fear,
• and makes you question yourself.

Many people experience them when they’re under stress, sleep-deprived, triggered, or already fighting anxiety. For some people, it can become OCD-like (obsessive loops): the more you try to prove you’re not guilty, the more the loop feeds itself.

Not every intrusive thought has the same “source.” Sometimes it’s your brain under stress. Sometimes it’s temptation. Sometimes it’s spiritual warfare and accusation. Often it’s a mix — and you don’t have to figure it all out in one sitting.

Many people with blasphemous intrusive thoughts panic about “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.” Here’s the important thing: that passage is not describing a random unwanted thought that scared you.

It’s describing hardened, deliberate rejection — seeing God’s work clearly and calling it satanic with a settled heart posture.

If you are terrified that you offended God and you want to be right with Him, that is not the posture of someone hardened against Him. Fear and grief over sin is not the same thing as proud rejection of the Spirit.

When that fear hits, don’t run. Turn toward Jesus with honesty: “Lord, You know my heart. Help me.”

The biggest mistake with intrusive thoughts is treating them like a courtroom trial you have to win. The more you argue with them, prove you’re innocent, or replay them to “make sure,” the more you train your brain to keep surfacing them.

“Bringing into captivity” does not mean you never experience a bad thought. It means you do not let the thought become your master. You don’t have to entertain it. You don’t have to obey it. You don’t have to make it your identity.

What not to do (because it makes it worse)

• Don’t rehearse the thought to “check” if you liked it.
• Don’t confess every pop‑up thought as if you chose it. Confess what you choose and agree with.
• Don’t bargain with God (“If I never think this again, then I’m saved”). That’s anxiety, not faith.
• Don’t isolate if it gets intense. Shame grows in the dark.

What helps (practical + spiritual)

• Sleep and rhythm: exhaustion makes your mind more vulnerable.
• Lower the volume: reduce stimulants if your anxiety is spiking.
• Short Scripture anchors: repeat one verse slowly instead of “fighting” with a thousand words.
• Community: ask for prayer from one trusted believer.
• Professional help if needed: if it’s constant or debilitating, it’s wise to talk to a doctor or counselor.

Sometimes intrusive thoughts come with a “presence” — not just anxiety, but pressure, dread, confusion, intimidation, and that feeling of being pinned down spiritually.

If that’s you, you don’t need to become obsessed with demons. You need to do something much simpler: stand in Christ.

Notice the order: submit to God first (turn toward Jesus), then resist. Resistance is not panic. Resistance is steadiness.

If you want a deeper breakdown of the emotional feel of warfare, go here: What does spiritual warfare feel like emotionally?

You do not need perfect words. You need honest words.

If you feel numb, distant, or like you can’t sense God at all while this is happening, you’re not alone — this page can help too: Why can’t I feel God?

Intrusive thoughts can be part of spiritual warfare — and they can also be part of anxiety or OCD‑like patterns. Both can be real at the same time.

Please consider extra help if the thoughts are:

• constant and you can’t function,
• leading to panic attacks or severe insomnia,
• making you afraid to be alone,
• pushing you toward self-harm or harming others.

If you want to share what’s happening and ask for prayer, use Reach Out.

Go back to Inner Healing for the overview, or browse the full lane: Emotions & Inner Healing Questions.