Fear vs. Faith

When we first come to recovery most all of us have been living in fear for many years. Matter of fact, if it was not for fear we would not know how to act.

For many of us, removing a substance, one would think, would be sufficient for moving us from fear to a position of faith. However, merely not doing one thing doesn’t automatically unsure something else. We have to actively dismiss fear as we are acquiring faith. Let’s go ahead and take a look at fear and faith side by side. Remember fear is “false evidence appearing real”. Fear is usually based on an external reaction or response from our past. Faith is something acquired on our journey moving forward.

Fear

definitions by dictionary.com

1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone’s safety.
4. that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear.

As we begin taking the 12 steps, begin learning from our recovery material and relating to those who have come before us we start to believe that maybe this recovery thing can work for us we are taking our first steps of faith.

Faith

1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the theory would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in a Higher Power, God of your understanding, or in particular doctrines or teachings.
4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

Definitions by dictionary.com

Daily we must renew our commitment to our self to become well. Wellness is only accomplished as we mover from fear to faith. We learn to trust our Higher Power, the program of recovery and even others as we “Trudge the Road to Happy Destiny” (AA Big Book).

“Above all take it one day at a time.” Bill W. page 11 of How It Works