Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. -- John 15:2
From the text, we see that it is evident that God doesn't bother to chasten those who bear no fruit at all; rather, he purges the fruitful branches, so that they will bear more fruit, indeed, much fruit.
You may ask why I would relate this text to OCD or, indeed, to any affliction of the mind. We must remember that the fruit which is of the Spirit includes peace, which is something that the sufferer of mental anguish yearns for. If you want to enjoy fruit of the Spirit, you are going to have to do that which is required of you in order that you can have that fruit manifest within you. Also, I would definitely consider mental anguish to be an affliction (see definitions below), so seeing the purpose of God in the design of affliction often makes it easier to bear. Now then, moving on.
Let's look at a couple of definitions:
purge - to make free of something unwanted
chasten - 1) to correct by punishment or suffering: discipline: purify/purge; 2a) to prune (as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity: refine; b) to cause to be more humble or restrained: subdue
afflict - [middle English, from Latin "afflictus", past participle of "affligere" to cast down] 1a) humble; b)overthrow; 2a) to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish; b) trouble, injure
According to the passage, the purpose of chastening, affliction, or purging is that we should bear abundantly the fruit of the Spirit. It removes from us the things that are undesirable, that we would be a strong, healthy branch. Sometimes we are chastised as a direct result of rebellious sin; other times, we are allowed to be in affliction so that the heat of the refinery will bring to the surface hidden faults so that they may be drawn off. In both cases, the end is the same: that which is unwanted is removed, so that the result thereof is healthy and free of disease.
But let's not take this from only one place in scripture. The concept of chastisement as a blessing of the Lord is a common thread woven throughout God's Word.
Revelations 3:19 -- As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Proverbs 3:11-12 -- My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Hebrews 12:5-11 -- And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then ye are bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which correccted us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Psalm 119:67-68 -- Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psalm 119:71 -- It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psalm 119:75 -- I know, O Lord, that thy judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted.
Job 5:17 -- Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise no thou the chastening of the Almighty.
Jeremiah 18:1-6 -- The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behod, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
Psalm 94:11-13 -- The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
There are also many instances in scripture where the Lord is compared to a refiner (as one who refines gold and silver in a crucible); here are just a couple of instances:
Psalm 66:10 -- For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Malachi 3:3 -- And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Let us therefore trust the Refiner to the methods which he chooses to draw off our impurities.
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