Letting go and Letting God…we hear it all the time, but few of us really live our lives this way, and the truth is that while using, none of us do.
For recovery though, it's fundamental. Letting go and letting God is grace and humility personified, and it's only through this trust in Christ that we have a chance.
The first two steps of the Christian 12 steps could just as well be renamed letting go and letting God. We need to realize that there are some things in this life that we can’t handle on our own and that we need to trust in God - to know that although we are imperfect and weak - He is perfect and strong; and with his grace, there is nothing that we cannot do.
Letting go and letting God is a liberating and beautiful experience. Understanding that although we do not yet know how we are going to get better, how we are going to stop drinking or drugging….that God does.
Understanding that we can’t stop (we've proven this incredibly well already) but that God, God can do it for us, and that He wants to if we'll only just let Him in!
Forget about worry! Understand that it's not up to you to come up with the answers here…you just have to listen for the solutions that He will provide. If you worry about how you'll do it or how you'll have the strength to stay sober, you've got things completely backwards! You don’t have the strength or the knowledge, and by worrying about how YOU will do it, you've missed the point…you won’t, God will.
Understanding and believing this feels great. It doesn’t mean that you are not going to have to work at your recovery, but it does mean that you don’t have to worry about it. Just put your trust in the Lord, listen to His message, and feel His strength as he shows you the path.
Steps 1&2: Let Go and Let God!
It's very fitting that the first 2 steps of the Christian 12 steps are about letting go and letting God, and if you can’t get these right, none of the following steps are going to offer you much.
So say to yourself:
"I can’t do this on my own, but I believe that God will show me the path. Through God's grace I will discover what I need to move past this, and He will give me the strength to walk this journey!"
Feel better; it's not up to you anymore! Let go and let God. Pray for His wisdom, love and strength. Soon you will find the answers you seek. He will give you the strength and courage you need. Soon you will be past this.
Page last updated Dec 09, 2024
