When we started looking for a Power greater than ourselves, many of us got stuck in old beliefs and ideas. These ranged from not believing in anything at all, to being terrified by the idea of a punishing and vengeful God. Some of us believed that we had done such terrible things that no loving Power would ever care for us. Some of us were sure that if there really was a loving Power, all these "bad" things wouldn't have happened in our lives. It took time, effort, open-mindedness, and faith to gain a working understanding of a loving Higher Power that could guide us through life's challenges.
Even when we have come to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, our old ideas can come back to haunt us. Major obstacles in our lives and the insecurity that comes as a result of such events can bring to the surface those old concepts we had about God. When this happens, we need to reassure ourselves that our Higher Power has not abandoned us, but is there for us and will help us through the difficulties we face in recovery. Whatever loss we experience, we will overcome this difficulty and continue to grow as long as we keep in our hearts the faith that the program has given us.
