“Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing. It seems to cause more trouble. We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn’t go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn’t fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse. Perhaps there is a better way-we think so.For we are now on different basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite self. We are in the world to play the role he assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think he would have us, and humbly rely on him, does he enable us to match calamity with serenity.” – Pg.68 How It Works, from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Fear often robs us of all things good in our life. It causes so much damage and can be paralyzing at times. When we first receive alcohol addiction help, go to a drug addiction detox, AA, or 30 day rehab program one of the first things that is asked of us is to turn our will over to a power greater than ourselves. Through the recovery process we are given the tools needed to do so. The fact is that at some point we come to realize that fear to the extent that most of us endure it is not healthy and is no longer a character defect that works for us. It is isolating and only separates us from the world but also from our higher power. If we are in so much fear that we feel like we have to control the situation regardless of the fact that we are powerless then there is very little to no room for God. If we can live in faith then we can be rid of fear, be happy, be free from the bondage of self, and truly know what it’s like to live in the sunlight of the spirit while we match calamity with serenity.