There is an old Biblical story which relates to having trust in God. When the Jewish people left Egypt, "The
Exodus", God had prepared a land for them - The Promised Land. The
Promised Land was an eleven day journey from Egypt. Moses sent a scout from each of the twelve tribes to explore The
Promised Land and report back. They reported that the area was
magnificent, a land flowing with milk and honey, but the people there are
powerful and the cities well fortified. What's more, "we saw giants
seven to nine feet tall". This caused fear in the people. The only
scouts willing to face their fear (by trusting in God) were Caleb and
Joshua, both willing to enter The Promised Land. The Jewish people
decided not to enter. For the next forty years the Jews wandered around
in the wilderness until all those who were over twenty at the time had
died. Once again, they stood at The Promised Land and only Caleb and
Joshua who were over twenty from forty years ago were allowed to enter
as they had been willing to face their fears by trusting in God.
We each have our own exodus from our own addiction. We became
weary of wandering around the wilderness alone. We were ill. We were
finished. We face our fears by trusting in God and we enter The Promised Land - a land of
serenity, peace and joy. Are you ready? Have you come to believe that a
power greater than yourself could restore you to sanity? Have you come to trust in that power?
Edited by Caitlin Alexandra
Trusting in That Power is the passport to The Pronised Land of Recovery. But for me, it had to occur over time and with guidance and action. I didn't realize that I could live in a desert of faith, believing but not trusting. Incorporating The Twelve Steps into my daily life brought me to The Power Within me where the emptiness of life began to be infused with the milk and honey of living an awakened life with an awakened spirit. Regardless of the circumstances, I can trust in Trust. Outcomes, disappointments etc are never as all-consuming as they once were. The process of living daily life guided by The Power Within is the outcome. Happy, joyous and free of the bondage of me.
ReplyDeleteMichael As you, I always believed in God but belief must be fortified by trust in God if one is to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteThis comment Is From A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteArmand,
The parallels between Exodus and our personal escape from bondage through the 12 Steps of AA are profound indeed. A thorough reading clearly illuminates that same diabolically devious "Trojan Horse" thought life that portrays the efforts of our enemy as the desired vehicle to free the lives of the very people its sole purpose is intended to enslave and destroy. God hasn't ransomed us just to release us back into the prison of "half measures" and lost hope. How true that certain events in the day find us incapable of "generating" the depth of faith required to manifest an absolute trust in Gods guidance and plan. How then can we walk in the power of the Spirit? Mark 9: 14 - 29 holds the answer. Here we find a frantic father, desperately seeking relief for his demonized son. No doubt he sought every local source of human and spiritual ingenuity available to effect a cure, all to no avail. He hears secondhand of the miraculous works of Jesus, a furtive hope is kindled, he sets out into the wilderness. But hopes are dashed as Christ's disciples in the absence of the Master are impotent against the author of his sons's beastly captivity.
Jesus arrives on the scene, questions the father who relates his son's condition, the failure of His disciples to effect a cure, then pleads "Have mercy on us and help us if you can." "If I can?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly cries out "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" Thus, pride swallowed by desperation now provided the willingness to believe as he now laid his innermost need bare before the Master. He asked for a miracle and... It was provided. In that instant, lost hope transformed into saving faith as he witnessed the impossible. But the story wasn't over, His disciples asked "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?" Jesus replied, "This kind can only be cast out by prayer and fasting." Yes, some things do require extra effort on our part but all things can be overcome as we at first desperately, willingly then fervently lay them at the feet of our God.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic The Scripture you used "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief" clearly shows a trust in God delivered through humility...Thank you...Armand
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