The first two steps of the Twelve Step Program by A.A.
1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable
2. [We] Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
Came. To. Believe.
After we “admit helplessness”, Step 2 is “finding hope” by believing in a “Power greater than ourselves”. Bernard Jameson from Sobriety TV breaks down the Step into individual phrases, which I explain further:
1. “We came” … means, without necessarily accepting anything yet. We are at least presenting ourselves at the door of the classroom. We are opening the book. Or we are clicking on the link to get help.
But we are witholding our judgement until we get more information. Maybe we want to do this, maybe we don’t. At this point, we have not decided. All we know is something feels bad, like there needs to be a change. The first step allowed us to see that there needs to be a change.
At this stage, you have taken one step towards God. But what does He promise?
Allah says:
“I treat my servant according to his expectations from Me and I am with him when he remembers Me… if he takes one step towards Me, I will take ten steps towards him. If he walks towards Me, I will run unto him.” (Hadith: Bukhari & Muslim)
2. “We came to” … In English, when someone awakens from unconsciousness, it is said that they “came to”. Often, when people are unconscious of the Higher Power, their hearts are referred to as being in a state of sleep or its cousin, in a state of death. In Arabic, you are in ghafla, and then you remember, and come back from your heedlessness.
3. “We came to believe”… after coming, and becoming aware, then we start to believe that this may be the truth. There is something in us, something that we were born with, that recognizes the Higher Power, whether you call Him Allah, or something else. We also recognize the truth about our actions. We feel that yes, we might have been addicted to people, that our dependency on others has gotten out of hand. We come to believe that there is a problem, and this just might be the cure.
What Is the Importance Of A Power Like Him?
4. “A power greater than ourselves” … In order for a seed to grow, it needs the right nutrients, air and light from OUTSIDE of itself. For a car to run, it needs gas from OUTSIDE of itself. Similarly, for us to run our lives, we need Power from OUTSIDE our selves.
We might have accepted that there is a Higher Power, but we have not accepted the implications. If there is a Supreme intelligence, would it not make sense that He would try to contact us? If you love someone, you want to be in contact. You want to guide them. Would not that be the same for the Creator, in whose Image we are Created? He says He loves us, and He says He is trying to reach us, through His scriptures and through our hearts. We need to submit ourselves to all these implications.
5. “Restore us to insanity” … so now we are admitting that some of our behaviors are ‘insane’. Everything seems to be going well, then all of a sudden we go back to that alcohol, drug, or person. We don’t have a way or tools to fight that urge. It takes us off the right path every time.
Every day, I go out to seek my physical needs from Him. Like the birds that go out every morning. Every day, I seek his guidance for my mental needs, as well. And just as the birds are fed every day, I also will be answered in my prayers for guidance. It is this spirit of tawakkul, or trust, that we should have, that we will be restored to sanity. If only we trust the One who should be trusted.
Jehan founded this magazine and site to help Muslim women and men learn to stay away from abusers, to strengthen their relationship with Allah SWT and to find better healthier relationships.
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