Perhaps there is a better way - we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.
We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.
From step four....How it works.
BB pg 68
I like that Quote Pappy.
It goes along the lines of Fear is Faith that something bad is going to happen.
I can't even put into measure the amount of anxiety and fear I was carrying with me when I entered into AA. It was crippling.
-- Edited by Stepchild on Monday 22nd of July 2013 12:34:31 PM
Before recovery, anxiety was the master of my life. Without a relationship with God, I faced life alone and was in constant fear of not getting my needs met or of losing something I had so desperately fought to get. The past was a constant source of regret and shame, and the future was filled with countless unknown dangers that would surely overwhelm me. All this made the present intolerable.
When I entered recovery, I brought my constant obsession with the past and future into the rooms with me. My sponsor taught me about living one day at a time, and he showed me that was where I would find God - today, right here, right now. He told me that if I could get present and so be in the presence of God, my anxiety would go away.
This was simple advice, but not so easy to do. The more I worked at practicing it, though, the more I found it to be true. Over the years I've found that the more I use the tools of the program - prayer and meditation, pausing and asking for God's guidance, and acknowledging in the moment that God is here - the more I find myself in the peace and serenity of God's presence.
Today I use the degree of my anxiety to measure my distance from God.
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Copyright @ 2013 Michael Z
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Yeah Stepchild, ... ... ... I can't believe the amount of anxiety I had when I came into the rooms also ... at the time, throughout any given day, I'd get a phenomenally fast 'heart rate' and my 'blood pressure' would sky-rocket ... ... ... I sure don't miss that at all ... ... ... and like you SC, I too, was crippled by it ...
Today, I carry the thought of God being there beside me to guide me in every step I take ... what a wonderful feeling to be rid of the anxiety and fear ... I never wish to see them return, ever ... but I'll settle for today ... Today, I feel better than I deserve! ... thank you Lord!
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
This is so true! Thank you both! Same here! My fear and anxiety when I came into AA was crippling and paralyzing. I'm grateful today I don't live that way any longer. Thank you God and AA.
-- Edited by Mike B. on Tuesday 23rd of July 2013 07:13:41 AM
-- Edited by Mike B. on Tuesday 23rd of July 2013 07:14:24 AM
