God-centeredness
“Gradually as we become more God-centered than self-centered, our despair turns to
hope.”
Basic Text, p. 92
What a glorious thing to have hope! Before coming to Narcotics Anonymous, many of
us lived lives of utter hopelessness. We believed we were destined to die from our
disease.
Many members speak of being on a “pink cloud” their first months in the program.
We’ve stopped using, made some friends, and life looks promising. Things are going
great. Then reality sets in. Life is still life-we still lose jobs, our partners still leave
us, friends still die, we still get sick. Abstinence is no guarantee that life will always
go our way.
When the reality of life on its own terms sets in, we turn to our Higher Power and
remember that life happens the way life happens. But no matter what occurs in our
recovery we need not despair, for there is always hope. That hope lies in our
relationship with our Higher Power.
This relationship, as expressed by the thought in our text, develops over time:
“Gradually, we become more God-centered.” As we rely more and more on the
strength of our Higher Power, life’s struggles don’t have to drag us into the sea of
despair. As we focus more on God, we focus less on ourselves.
Just for today: I will rely on my Higher Power. I will accept that, regardless of what
happens, my Higher Power will provide me with the resources to live with it.