What does Faith have to do with recovery?

[moja]

In step 1, we admitted we were powerless over our addictions and our lives had become unmanageable. This simple admission, and the decision to stop using, can make us feel pretty empty inside. What feels like this big VOID is really a clearing - like a meadow amidst the mountains - a space we can fill with a Power Greater than Ourselves. And that's what we do in step 2. We begin to create what it looks like to live a manageable life without the use of drugs and alcohol; without our old best friend, our disease. It's gonna take something to help us, something greater and more powerful than we are. And knowing that something such as that is out there - we begin to see that we can 'whisper in the ear of this giant' and we begin to form a relationship with this power. This can look like speaking up at meetings, prayer, meditation and even service. We just know that we don't ever, ever have to get through anything alone; ever, ever again. And we get hope from this - the principle behind the second step. But, as comforting as it feels to have some hope; HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. Step 3 offers the strategy for continued recovery - FAITH. Once we realize that our best thinking got us here, we realize that it is only through FAITH - turning our will and our lives over to the care of our Higher Power (who we began to create, literally, in our second step) - that we will continue to get better and reap all the benefits of being restored as the steps offer. Life 'beyond our wildest dreams' begins here in step 3. My request is that those of you posting on this site share what FAITH looks like and how it shows up in your life. Feel free to share your personal MIRACLES and stories of HOW YOUR FAITH HAS PLAYED A PART IN YOUR RECOVERY. Remember, recovery is about living in the solution, so keep your posts either in the solution or as a request for finding a solution. Enjoy your recovery.

[rafael]

Faith is an important part which you can not deny at all during recovery. It was your faith that helped you to recover. It was my faith in my self that helped me in recovery. I was heavy drinker and use to drink as much as possible till I was taken to hospital but then my family members aroused faith inmyself and all because of them I am able to recover.

[LW75]

Someone I know raised her children to always be hearing, "God gave you that healthy mind and body. Don't do anything to destroy what you've been given."

When people honestly believe their body and mind are a gift that they should be appreciative of they're not as likely to slip into substance abuse.

[griffin1]

Obviously we cannot recover alone. If we could there would be no need for meetings and rehab hospitals,etc. So we need to believe in, to put our faith in, a power higher than ourselves. One thing that helps me is keeping a gratitude journal. Every night I write down at least 2-3 things that I am grateful for on that day. I try to ensure that they are different things each day. Once you start looking for the good things it's not hard to find them. Anyway, when I'm going thru a rough time I sometimes review my gratitude journal and it reminds me of all the blessings I have in my life, this reminder then strengthens my faith in my higher power.

[Archbob]

Trying to recover alone is usually not successful. For those of us who believe in a higher power and have been told that he is always with us, having that faith may be more important than anything when you are trying to fight off a craving. You want to quit because you know that God wants you to quit.

[Mess]

Faith is that power which keep your spirits up during recovering with out faith recovery could be something next to impossible. You just can't ignore its importance.

[websurfpro]

Most important thing in the recovery process is of course the faith , the faith in you, trusting yourself that you will not do it again, and the faith in God, whitch will help you with your recovery process.

[jr_sci]

The other name of faith is miracle in case of recovery from addiction. Faith can be on yourself, God, beloved, family, society, nation, luck, destiny etc.

[mambios]

Faith has an enormous part to play in the recovery process not only in offering support and help but in the sense that without faith in yourself, you're not going to accomplish anything.

[fever]

If you have faith in yourself and God you can win anything and comes out of every situation you face in your life and if you don't have faith you cannot gain anything

[jnjsarauer]

Faith gets you out of yourself and your own problems and focusing on something bigger and stronger. Suddenly, you don't feel like a puny little nobody who can't stand up to the bottle or the pill or whatever other demons knock at your door. With faith, you become a courageous warrior, and know that you will succeed because you are not alone.

[Jewel]

I have gotten over addictions with no help from any type of faith, and I know others that have as well. Faith isn't really necessary for everybody, but it can help some who do not have other systems of support.

[Ronaldo]

Faith should not be on any other. It should be within you. You must have faith on yourself that you can do it. Nothing is impossible for you.

[JanDonau]

I like to think of the first three steps like the beginning of a journey. I had a dream that I was standing on the edge of a desert. The desert was in front of me and behind me was darkness, despair and death; an evil land. I knew that I would be in a wonderful place if I could cross the desert, but the desert also meant death. To stay there, however, meant certain death and even more certain misery and pain. A thought came upon me that I would be able to cross the desert if I surrendered to the journey and not the impossibility of the journey. And then I was completely consumed with the process of that first step toward the sun and the desert. This, for me, was the third step.

[asquared]

The first kind of faith that is necessary is complete faith in my inability to effectively run my own life.

[asquared]

Next I just act as if

[Swastik]

Think why doctors says that whatever we have to do we have done it. But now you ahve to faith on GOD. It is all about faith nothing else. Recovery and faith is interlinked like this only.

[Tina Peters]

Hello,

I have chosen a quick reply to this message just to recommend my very personal sharing which is my recent publication of my book, "THE BARBED WIRE FENCE".
As a recovered alcoholic who, as of this week, has 24 yrs. of sobriety, I have much to say on the recovery process. That's one of the reasons I began to write this book more than ten years ago. It has taken me ten years not to just write this book, but to endure a journey which has brought me a manner of victory that's worth sharing with any person struggling with alcohol and/or drug addiction, sexuality issues, physical and sexual abuse; but my specialty, according to my book, would likely be dealing with and overcoming unhealthy relationship issues. "THE BARBED WIRE FENCE" is an expose' of the person I was before Christ came into my life and how, for the longest while, I remained that person even after coming to know Him. Apparently, I had a decision to make; and that decision was to determine how important it was for me to stop hurting myself and others I connected with on a personal basis. I had to decide to stop straddling the fence, so to speak, and commit to living according to God's perfect will for my life. The painful humiliations of trying to live for self, all the while trying to convince others that I was all that, so to speak, was so chastising for me that I am no longer anything close to being still that person. Through the power of God, I have acquired hope; emotional stability and everlasting truths which has allowed me to be reasonably happy in this world and promise supreme happiness in the next. "THE BARBED WIRE FENCE", by Tina Peters is a Xulon Press publication. It may also be obtained through order from barnesandnoble.com, borders.com, amazon.com. I hope you will choose to read this book. You'll, no doubt, be extremely glad you did!!

Thank you,
Tina Petes