I want to catch you later on the side, but for now - GREAT post ! SOOOOOOO true! Thanks for starting my day off with a smile. :) Rusty22

that was truly great. for me, i guess i selected an HP who drops the ball a lot and is ineffectual in some ways. in other words i need to stop being wishy-washy with faith. God is everything or he is nothing and he sure doesn't need my help. thanks again. love devonh

Sponsor told me to put on a piece of paper what I would like God to be like..after much thought and consideration I did exactly what he asked...when done I handed him the paper and without looking he handed it back and gave me an instant resentment..I mean come on.. I spend hours of deep thought on this and he doesn't even read it!!! But with that quirky smile of his and a chuckle in his voice he said cheerfully, "This is the God of Your Understanding...NOW USE HIM." I do and it works....

For me it was finally seeing that a HP (God) was working in my life.

I say "finally seeing" because He was always there, but I didn't always give Him the credit, or the time of day, for that matter. I was just wondering through life as He was waiting... quietly and patiently for me to notice Him working in my life.

When I finally did see, I didn't feel so alone any more. I didn't feel so weak. So worthless.

Even when I look back on my life and felt as tho He wasn't there because I didn't think my prayers were being answered, I see now that His plan for me was better than mine.

Anyone who thinks God isn't there because things aren't going our way, is wrong. He is there! He isn't pushy (doesn't force Himself on us). He isn't one to make you do anything (free will).

If you are seeking, you will find Him. Look around. He is everywhere, sometimes suttle and other times powerful. He is here, with us, and He is there, with you.

Like the song goes.... "Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers".

Can I ask what 'letting your guard down a bit' meant in this context? Do you all go with barriers up? Thanks, Carol.

I've always believed in God. Depression is anger turned inward. Alcohol is a depressant so it enhances the depression and it manifests in many ways of anger and sadness. The Depression is still there, just not as much. Anxiety and depression go together. We either feed the anxiety to avoid the depression or feed the depression to avoid the anxiety. We can feed the aniexty with cigarettes, sugar, starch, and caffeine beverages. Getting so high on the scale we look for depresants. We know varying states and degrees of anxiety and depression. Comedy and tragedy. The masks of laughter and tears, masking our anxiety and depression. We do not know peace. Only God as you understand Him/Her can remove it. I see people suffering by prescription drugs trying to maintain that balance of equal amounts of anxiety and depression.

I blamed God and only God. I guess that's why I wasn't a crying in the beer or swinging from a vine at others drunk. Why am I so miserable? Well, the answer was found, literally right under my very own nose. A glass of alcohol. You are a horrible God! Well it's hard to be the judge of God especially when I haven't known peace. Like John Lennon sung, all we are saying is give peace a chance. "No God, no peace. Know God, know peace."

Yes, I agree those masks become shields and walls to ourselves and to others. We have to let down those guards. I don't trust anyone, not even God. And what have I got to lose by opening up to God for whatever he is to remove this anxiety and depression which has been with me for so long? What will I do without it? We will come to know God and peace when we put down our best defenses.

Peace while healing.

Love, Mo

this is an interesting topic especially for me because I have been struggling with the second step for about a week now. I have always believed. I was lucky enough to be brought up in a household where God was a loving God. A God of forgiveness and piety. I have carried that into my adult life. Several years ago my daughter was taken from me by CAS under the suspicion of abuse (there was no abuse involved as my ex was only making trouble). I eventually lost custody of her because of my mental illness but whenever I got into trouble with CAS it was because I had been drinking. The drinking made me do outlandish things like get on the telephone and shout at people...of course people thought my mental illness was out of control and they feared for my daughter. They never questioned if it was the alcohol that was making me do it because I hid the fact that I was drunk. Anyways I prayed and I prayed that she be returned to me. She wasn't and I guess at that point I could have turned my back on God but I went searching for a deeper meaning. Today I can see that there is a purpose in everything God does. My daughter wasn't returned to me but it gave me the time to work on myself and my issues with alcohol. My daughter is healthy and happy and is probably in a better place than with me because I still have some growing up to do. There is a reason why certain things happen to us and why when God shuts a door he opens a window. I drank for years after my daughter was taken to douse the pain I was feeling and I threatened my marriage and my relationship with my daughter. I guess I came to the realization that God works in mysterious ways over a long period of time and adjustment. For me it didn't happen in an instant. I am not a born again Christian I belong to a faith but my growth in faith has been a gradual one as life ebbs and flows. There was no "coming to believe" only a development in my already strong faith and really the actual alcohol had very little to do with it. It had to do with my own personal behaviours which I feel the 12 step program is all about. Thanks for reading this :) God bless.

OK - I loved that! What an insightful old timer! Im sure you were in hysterics. I attend a study group on Tuesday nights and I have to say, although its supposed to be all serious, I usually end up laughing my arse off! Last night we were discussing prayer, and I am sure God would have been grinning down on us wondering what on earth was so funny about it all! Laughter is one of the best healings.... hey even sounds like a meeting I might wanna go to!

well, for me, i have always believed, as it were... in a higher power, i just thought he/she had forsaken me... and when i was sobering up... i applied percentages and realized that the odds don't add up. i am not that special. there was no way that there could not be a higher power in my life.

always believed in god but felt he had come to condemn me to a life of drunkeness because of my actions. When i finally got desperate enough to call out to god for help he extended his hand once again and has guide me since that morning through this program and life. I came to believe because he did and does for me what i cannot do for my self.

my higher power (GOd) has always been there. I just needed to build a relationship with him. I faked it till I made it. I stayed sober and went to meetings without drinking in between them. I started seeing miracles happen in the rooms. I got to work on my steps. It's been a real slow go for me. I came to believe because A.A. works! For me that is a miracle. There are too many beautiful things in this world for there not to be a higher power. In my opinion. Great post:)

wow this one has me thinking. i am working on the faith thing myself, nice of you to share