Part of the definition of belief is to Trust. Trust is the key component of belief. When I was a teenager I broke my relationship with God. It was a relationship that had developed through the early religious training I received in Catholic grade school. The fact that I broke my relationship with God did not change that I had always believed in God. I believed in God even while I was living the life of an alcoholic -- in utter pandemonium. My behaviors had nothing to do with my belief in Him. It was my lack of trust in Him which led me astray from a relationship with Him for so long. Trust, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something".
To have such certainty for the Supreme Power requires humility, exactly that which the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous gives us. The incorporation of the steps of such a program into our lives begins the break down of our egos, so that humility (and all the many benefits from it) can seep into our lives. After some time we actually develop a hunger for it. I have learned in my experience with the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that humility is the key which unlocks the door to the grace of God. It is only through this grace that we remain sober and recovered from our addictions and the manifestation of our character defects. Our egos must be deflated and our human desires subrogated to the will of God. Belief is necessary but trust is essential.
TRUST IS THE KEY COMPONENT OF BELIEF.
Written By Armand
This is a powerful and beautiful post into which much of the program of recovery has been woven and integrated. I was raised in a family where actions could be trusted - I thought. In a religion where beliefs could be trusted - I thought! However, it was in AA that I felt Trust at a deeper experiential level than ever before. In The Second Step, I learned that, for me, Trust would have to precede belief. And that I could acquire both by integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that I would work toward a trusting worthwhile belief - in myself - through The Power Within me. Convinced of that simple-yet-not-easy notion, I found that each Step would yield growing humility and that Grace would be the vital and life-changing reward. By understanding and affecting that Step-driven process, today I am a person who is worthy of Trust. And I believe.
ReplyDeleteMichael. As you point out Michael - it takes time and experience to trust... Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDelete"We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity"...Even from the earliest moments of my having attained the "age of reason," knowledge of the will of God had never been a problem. But like you, Trusting that by following His will I would have a joyful and pleasant life experience was an entirely different story. I simply didn't have the desire nor required will power to delay my overwhelming appetite for instant gratification, often at the expense of others. The result was always the same. A deep sense of guilt followed by an overwhelming compulsion to avoid, at all costs, the shameful consequences and social rejection my actions, if discovered, would bring. Usually by lying, but the effort to maintain the illusion of outward innocence always required a never ending stream of elaborately concocted lies that, as many have experienced, results in a veritable mountain of guilt and shame that haunted every waking moment of my life. That is, until I discovered alcohol... I easily bought into the ultimate deception that the antidote for this poisoned way of thinking was to swallow more of the same poison that had overwhelmed me in the first place, the inevitable result, insanity...
Self obsession and fear was the fuel that propelled my total rejection of the pure and holy person of God and His gloriously simple plan for continuous communion and the overwhelming joy and peace that follows. Alcohol became my principal source of courage, refuge and yes - after me, my principle "god" ( for I had many others). Yet, in His perfect provision, the very substance that compelled me to waste what little was left of my life became the very propellent that ultimately initiated the desperate cry to the very Person of God I had rejected and Who's principles l had grown to despise.
In one spontaneous plea for deliverance, birthed from the belly of my once desperate soul, hopelessness became hope, gilt dissolved in mercy and forgivness and shame was dissolved by FINALLY ACCEPTING the love and acceptance of the One True and Living Father of Light.
My testimony is now inextricably joined together with the founders of this fellowship and all others before and after who had come to believe that the love and forgiveness of God, so freely given, transcends every sinful act mankind has ever committed, and that this same Author and Finisher provides Himself... as the simple plan, propitiation and internal power to change the very instant anyone humbles themselves and musters the mere willingness to believe. Trust is important, but this pilgrim would never have come to trust were it not for accepting God's gift of grace. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2: 8-9). To anyone who has ears to hear be of good cheer! For He stands at the doorway of your heart right now - and knocks with a love and compassion beyond telling. His one desire is to come into your heart and bring you peace, through the indwelling Holy Spirit that once received can never be taken away! Amen and Amen!
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic ah yes "instant gratification" the bane of the alcoholic... Thank you... Armand
DeleteI can let go and trust. Surrender can be painful and it can bring serenity and simplicity. I choose to follow the path, seeking guidance, believe in trust. I do not have to feel the need to control nor be afraid. God is a loving father who is there for me with love and understanding. In times of quiet, I am still with peace in deepening my faith and remembering to let go and trust.
ReplyDeleteJessica difficult to give up control in the beginning until adsense of Humility is gained...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteTypo meant a sense
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