Why “Turning Our Will Over” is Not as Tricky as it may Seem – Step 3

Pelican turning its beak upside down w/ sfz title
“For some of us, deciding to turn our will and lives over to the care of the God of our understanding is a process, not an event.” “When we are tempted to manipulate a situation, we recall this decision and let go.” (The Basic Text, p. 23).

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What does “Turning your Will Over” to your HP mean to you?

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Why do you think trusting others or a Higher Power can help us feel like we belong and are not alone?

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Guidance – Noor – rockin Arab band(6:04)

Let Go & Let God – Saint Francis de Sales (2:06)

Popular Gregorian Chant Benedictinos (4:25)

 

In today’s SFZ, Step Three invites us to trust a Higher Power and stop trying to control everything ourselves. When we take action, even if afraid, we grow. While It Works, How & Why explains that we find strength by moving forward, not by waiting for fear to go away.

For instance, Carl Rogers believed real change comes when we risk being vulnerable. Step Three reflects that. We trust in something greater, even if we don’t see the full picture.  Brené Brown also teaches that courage starts with showing up. Step Three asks us to do that—show up with trust.

Consequently, the 12 & 12  says we stop feeling like misfits. We stop pretending. We stop living in isolation. That freedom comes from trust. We begin to feel like we belong, like we fit.  Maslow, a psychologist, said people need to feel safe and connected to grow. That’s exactly what Step Three gives us.

Lao Tzu reminds us that we must first trust others to receive trust back. In recovery, we learn that lesson through action. Faith is not just belief. It’s doing the next right thing, even without knowing the outcome.  We learn to “let go and let God.” This doesn’t mean giving up—it means giving over our fear. We begin to grow, connect, and live freely.

 

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Comments

7 responses to “Why “Turning Our Will Over” is Not as Tricky as it may Seem – Step 3”

  1. Eli🌱 Avatar
    Eli🌱

    At the moment, turning my will over just means trusting that things will be okay. Faith or hope.

  2. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

    Turning my will over to my HP to me means being receptive of the control my HP is trying to bestow upon me to have the courage to continuously progress, and know that my HP has the best interest for me to achieve what I really know I want to achieve, even when it seems bleak I must always keep my trust alive.

  3. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    For me it means trust, even when there is no obvious evidence or the challenge seems the hardest. I do not know what my HP has planned or how things will work out. Long ago I learned that I am not a prophet. This is where faith and trust become central to my relationship with my HP. Thank you, I am grateful that my HP is at the wheel.

  4. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    For me, my recovery is simplified using the God in the big book as my higher power and my guide. When Bill Wilson and Dr Bob wrote The Big Book they used the word God and they use the word He… so that’s what I use. That combined with my sponsors Direction makes it easy, makes it simple to turn my will over to him. I love how in page 86 of the big book it says we consider our plans for the day before we begin we ask God to direct our thinking… and just like that, I’ve turned my will over to him for another day…

  5. Brandon De Santiago Avatar
    Brandon De Santiago

    To live how we want,
    And to do what we please.
    Can sometimes be tough,
    And not done with great ease.

    Life works in many ways,
    Some good and some bad.
    Which stops us in our tracks,
    And makes us real mad.

    We can’t all get,
    What we want right away.
    And waiting is needed,
    To show us the way.

    So learn the lesson now,
    That some never learn.
    Waiting patiently,
    Will allow you your turn.

  6. JB jr. Avatar
    JB jr.

    For me the key is always believing in the end things are going to work out as they should. That doesn’t mean I just lay back and watch. But it does mean when I’m engaged I need to moderate my motivations to make sure they are aligned with what feels right. And then not worrying about the results.

  7. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    I think a lot about whether or not God exists; is there only one God? What happens after I die? This is Step 2 stuff that bleeds over into Step 3. This comes only after I read about people I respect who say, “you are hopelessly naive if you think there is a God.” I do know I feel tremendous relief when I surrender to a Power greater than myself. Someone else’s concept of God is not mine. Someone else’s relationship with their Higher Power is not my relationship with my Higher Power. I want to erase this paragraph because I am afraid of what others may think of me. I trust that both our Higher Powers will handle this.

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