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
First I trusted God with my drinking and drug problems, and God took those away and restored me to sanity. But my insanity, or my untreated alcoholism, extends into other areas of my life. Recovery for me has been a long process of surrendering more and more parts of my life and my will to that Power, usually after I've run them into the ground on my own. I've heard it said that the first three Steps boil down to the statement, "I can't do it-- He can-- I'm going to let Him do it." If my problem is ultimately my Self, then the solution is always a Power greater than myself, in all areas of my life. God is constantly doing for me what I could not do for myself. The question is always-- will I let Him?
ReplyDeleteDan love when you wrote 'the solution is always a power greater than myself."...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 at times I wanted to do what is right, I found myself incapable of "generating" the depth of faith required to manifest an absolute trust in Gods guidance and plan. My eventual release from the bondage of self and the sick constellation of abusive and addictive behavior’s that defined me can be found in the Gospel of Mark 9: 14 - 29. 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 doubts and fear that had previously obscured the father's innermost need was in that moment revealed and surrendered to the Master as he instantly cries out "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" He asked for a miracle to overcome that which he was inwardly unable to do 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..” 34 years ago I was as the son described in this passage. In desperation I finally cried out to the God of my understanding who seemed, at the time, light years away. He then drove me into a 40 day fast. Water, meetings, continuous prayer and occasionally coffee were my sole daily sustenance during that time. I shared my condition with my family, employer and friends at work who all, to my surprise, lovingly carried me. The cravings of my flesh, alcohol and drugs finally lost their power over me. Replaced by a deep and abiding personal relationship with God who has continued to provide me with blessings and newly refined desires of my heart. Yes, I have discovered some things do require extra effort on my part but all things can absolutely be overcome as I first willingly, then fervently, lay them at the feet of the Lord. Beginning, with myself..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic the surrender of our nature must occur if we are to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAfter drukenly wandering (staggering) for many years, I had no idea of the depth of my self-loss. Even during my early years in AA, the notion of Trust was indecipherable to me. I needed to learn and for that to occur, I had to be taught. It was in Step Two that I was taught/learned that I must have a personal relationship with a Power Greater than myself in order to find perspective and peace. It never occurred to me that what I was really searching for was A Greater Power Within myself. The Power Within, The Power of Peace, The Power of the Spiritually Awakened. That awareness was the gift I received upon integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they became my life. I "feel" that I have been transported me from the desert of isolation and futility to the rich ground of Trust and Recovery. One step at a time, one day at a time.
ReplyDeleteMichael anyone who says time doesn't matter on AA doesn't have any time as evidenced by our journies in recovery... Thank you...Armand
DeleteI loved your story and how it relates to our stubbornness with all the gifts presented to us by the Lord yet despite all He has done for us, we still refuse to align our will to His.
ReplyDeleteBut as an alcoholic, it requires me to experience levels of pain and suffering over extended periods of time. I recently read some words from The Rebbe (Menachem Mendal Schneerson): "In and of itself, your pain is often a sign that something else is wrong. It is a symptom of a cause that may not be readily visible, and you must look at life from a sharper angle to find this cause." My suspicion is that the Israeli people were not ready to enter the promised land. Their trust was not in God who just delivered them from the Egyptians and parted the Red Sea. They still carried some character defects that needed 40 more years of wandering through the desert before their children could enter the land of milk and honey. I often wonder what it is God is trying to teach me in my pain and suffering. While I understand it intellectually, my heart has not completely surrendered to His will for me.
Jim see my response to Michael above...Thank you...Armand
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