Step 2

jonijoni1 · MIP Old Timer

Step 2

Doll · MIP Old Timer

"Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

I'd always believed in God. I was raised in a church, my grandfather was a minister & as a child I was 'active' in that church. I loved going, I looked forward to it. I never doubted that God existed, that He loved me and had created me for His pleasure. As a small child I'd heard God speak to my heart many, many times.

I guess by the time I was 16 or 17 and had started to drink regularly (I was one of those women that when I took the drink, the drink took me) and hang out with lower companions I realized that alcohol could no longer allow me to practice the tenance of my faith. That I would have to chose.

So, little by little I stopped going to church, I stopped praying, I didn't stop believing, I just stopped participating in anything that had ever been Godly to me. And when He tried to speak to me, I would drown it out with more booze.

I was a bit surprised when I got to AA & found it that it was a spiritual program. I knew nothing of AA and really thought it would be more "clinical" I guess.

Upon attending meetings, listening to shares regarding step 2, reading the BB and 12& 12, and participating in step 2 meetings, I realized that I didn't have to "come" to believe, I all ready believed. I'd believed that God could do ANYTHING when I was growing up, that He gave us the desires of heart, just like the BIG Big Book says and I realized that I still believed all of that... I was the one who turned my back on Him. But what I learned as a little girl assured me that God loved me, that He'd never stopped, that He'd always been there. He was just waiting for me to call on Him. And when I did, He was right there.

jonijoni1 · MIP Old Timer

Great share, Doll. I always believed in God, but I did not believe, for some reason that he COULD restore me to sanity. Because I knew we were given free will, and somehow I believed that my will to drink and basically kill myself was a choice freely given to me, and therefore God would not take it back or change it without ME making it possible. I never believed that I COULD CHANGE, despite the power of God. How could God MAKE me willing to "let go" of alcohol? But He did just that, and it was through people.

It was not until I had heard enough AA leads, where the alcoholics were very bit as stubborn, lost and pathetic as I was, and sometimes even moreso, and yet they were "special" enough in God's eyes to be rescued from sure death and misery by this wonderful God-centered program. I came to meetings, in order to come to believe. I finally knew that there was hope for me.

Step One took away my hope of every drinking normally. Step Two gave me back hope, the Hope that I could be rescued from my insanity....

lani · MIP Old Timer

I truly dont think I could have ever stopped drinking without believing in a power greater than myself! I too had God (of my understanding) in my life, all my life. Just went to him when I NEEDED him! God get me through this, God give me that....Never had a good "relationship" with my HP until I made it a relationship instead of something I would use for my own good.

I could have never quit on my own because at first I wasnt willing! Once I trusted my HP could save me from the insanity my life had become, things got so much better.

Today, because of believing and trusting in a HP, the promises are coming true! Life is good and I no longer feel embarrassed or ashamed because of my behavior! I have learned to live a good life and to be a better person!

Quetzal · MIP Old Timer

I had a church based schooling until I was eleven and decided that God and I weren't compatible. So, I was dreading starting work on step two.

But, by the time I started to think about this step, I was three months sober and something was working for/with me. Something was suddenly that hadn't been working for the last eighteen months while I was drinking.

I truly believe there is something greater and more powerful than me and I believe that it is a benign, positive, loving force. If I spend time thinking about a Higher Power I feel more peaceful and able to deal with new situations without using alcohol.

I cannot pinpoint, exactly, when I realized that I had a Higher Power, but I do truly know that there is a Higher Power who can restore me to sanity and soundness of mind. When I was drinking I could not even believe in me, but now I have the belief that a Power, besides myself, can help me.

Looking back, over my drinking career, through sober eyes I can now see many occasions when my Higher Power was already there and helping and guiding me away from trouble and problems. It is only now that I can see that. I was never able to see it before.

Today, I am truly grateful that I have come to recognize my Higher Power and that I can now communicate with it.

Take care,

Carol

hills alive · Veteran Member

hello doll.
yes i believe that AA was a godsend to this planet in the first place, god uses people all over the world to start something up that will be a benefit to his kingdom as a witness for others, and AA is one of many areas that we can come to share our experience, hope. and promissess to others.
when i reentered the church after about 5 years sobriety, i was surprised to see 15 members of aa in that church ,and all the info i had read in the bigbook, heard at meetings, at conferences, camps and in our central service office here in adelaide south australia was also being shared by the pastor and others during sermons and other meetings, mainly on character qualities, that we are taught about in the steps.
its a great life to be sober whether your in a church or not AA is the church as the church is not the building it is the carriers of the message. cheers peter.