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?
Written By Armand
Written By Armand
Even amidst the limitless gifts available through The Big Book program of recovery, none is more profound than the Gift of Trust. As I've experienced it, Trust is a gift one gives to oneself. Lack of trust in anyone or anything was draining me of everything worthwhile in life. Without Trust, there was no love, there was no possible relationship, there was no faith, there was no God. Immediately upon climbing the fire escape steps (and before I'd ever heard of The Steps)to my first AA meeting, I felt the presence of something I'd yearned for but couldn't find within the limitations of my human nature. At the time, there were no words for this feeling. It was like trying to describe the taste of water. Today, I have a word - Trust. Only possible for me by incorporating all Twelve Steps into my life in a way that they became my life. A life of buoyancy, bounty and beauty. A life made whole by the certainty of the presence of The Power Within me and within all of us. I know Who to Trust. And how.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Today's story is a great reminder for me and gives me hope during a time when trusting in anything has been challenging. I'm ready to leave the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. God, I surrender to you my heart, thoughts, amd behaviors. In turn, please give me the grace and patience to understand your will for me. I pray that my self centered fear be replaced with trust so that i may be a channel of your love today and always.
ReplyDeleteMichael a component of belief is trust. When gives power to their belief when one trusts...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteArmand, a wonderful topic.
ReplyDeleteGod hasn't ransomed us just to release us back into the prison of "half measures" and lost hope. Although I wanted to do what is right, certain events in the day found me incapable of "generating" the depth of faith required to manifest an absolute trust in Gods guidance and plan. How then can I 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 of the miraculous works of Jesus, a furtive hope is kindled, he sets out into the wilderness. But hopes are dashed as Christ's own disciples are impotent against his sons's beastly condition.
Jesus arrives on the scene, questions the father who relates his desperation, 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 crippling fear that had previously obscured the father's innermost need was in that fraction of a moment surrendered to the Master. He instantly cries out "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" He asked for a miracle and it was provided... In an instant, lost hope transformed into saving faith while he witnessed the impossible as Jesus cast out the daemon and his son was restored healthy and whole. 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 may require extra effort on our part but all things can be overcome as we willingly and fervently lay them at the feet of the Lord.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholi
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic self centered fear is the bane of the Alcoholic. The solution, a vital spiritual solution. We give life to our relationship with God by trusting and living in his will...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Today's story is a great reminder for me and gives me hope during a time when trusting in anything has been challenging. I'm ready to leave the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. God, I surrender to you my heart, thoughts, amd behaviors. In turn, please give me the grace and patience to understand your will for me. I pray that my self centered fear be replaced with trust so that i may be a channel of your love today and always.
Anonymous A life lived in the will of God is a life worth living...Thank you...Armand
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