He hid it from everyone… even his parents.

As a teen, he convinced himself that God had rejected him. By his 20s, when he finally tried to tell someone, their reaction left him feeling even more ashamed. So he stayed quiet.

Now in his 30s, Danny Gokey is opening up about something deeply personal: his battle with a lesser-known form of OCD called scrupulosity: a mental health condition that twists thoughts about faith, guilt, and worthiness into overwhelming fear and shame.

He thought God was out to get him. It poured over into his day-to-day life. Even as a kid, he washed his hands until they bled, trying to feel “clean” enough for God. He spent years spiraling under the weight of religious fear, terrified that nothing he did could earn God’s forgiveness or love.

He began experiencing mental breakdowns, the kind that finally forced him to stop pretending everything was fine. That’s when he finally told his wife and his manager what had been going on inside his head for years.

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Danny got help. He started healing. He learned the truth about the grace of Jesus: that we are never meant to live in fear of God’s rejection. That nothing can separate us from His love. That no amount of shame, even when it feels like it’s drowning us, can undo what Christ has already done.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” | Romans 8:38-39

Why Mental Health Matters

Danny Gokey is known for songs that are full of hope: songs like “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again,” and “Stay Strong.” They hit even harder when you realize they were written by someone who spent decades feeling worthless, even while leading others in worship.

It’s easy to look at people in the spotlight and assume they’re exempt from inner battles. He didn’t have to share this. He could’ve kept it a secret. But by bringing it into the light, he’s not only helping break the stigma around mental health in the church: he’s showing us that hope isn’t reserved for the already healed. It’s available right in the middle of the mess.

If You’ve Ever Felt This Way…

If you’ve ever felt like God is disappointed in you, or like you have to earn His love, there is nothing that can separate you from His love.
If you’ve ever been afraid that your thoughts disqualify you from grace, you’re not beyond saving.

Danny Gokey’s story is proof that it’s okay to talk about the hard stuff. That faith and mental health can go hand in hand. And that God isn’t out to get you: He’s out to love you. Talk to someone, and talk to Him. You’re not alone.

How Faith & Therapy Work Together | Tasha Layton