This can be a challenging shift in recovery. Many of us spent years trying to control outcomes or relying on our own understanding. We wanted to know the plan before we were willing to trust it. Yet recovery invites us into something different. Instead of being given a full picture, we are asked to take the next step in faith, trusting that God will guide us along the way.
In the Twelve Steps, this movement becomes clear. Step Two invites us to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. Step Three asks us to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. These steps do not give us a detailed plan for the future, but they do give us a path: trust, surrender, and willingness.
Jesus continues by saying, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” In other words, to know Jesus is to know God. For many of us, our understanding of God has been shaped by fear, confusion, or past experiences. Recovery becomes a process of discovering who God truly is. As we come to know Christ more deeply—through prayer, Scripture, and the witness of others—our understanding begins to change.
The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book speaks to this reality in a powerful way: “For deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of God… We found the Great Reality deep down within us” (p. 55). For many in recovery, this discovery unfolds gradually. What may have once felt distant or abstract begins to feel personal and real.
This growing relationship with God begins to shape how we live. Jesus says that those who believe in Him will carry on His work. These works are not about achieving greatness in a worldly sense. They are often simple acts of love: reaching out to someone who is struggling, offering encouragement, or showing up honestly in a meeting. In recovery, these small acts become powerful signs of transformation.
As we continue on this path, a quiet confidence begins to grow. Not confidence in our own ability to control life, but trust in the presence of God within us. We begin to recognize that we are not walking alone. The same Christ who calls us forward also dwells within us, strengthening us for each step.
This does not mean the journey becomes easy. There are still moments of uncertainty, discomfort, and growth. Yet over time, we begin to see that we do not need to have everything figured out. We simply need to remain willing, stay connected, and continue moving forward.
Easter reminds us that new life is not something we create on our own. It is something we receive as we walk with Christ. He does not always show us the full path ahead, but He assures us that He is the way. As we continue in recovery, we are invited to trust Him more deeply, one step at a time.
Reflection Questions
- When have you found yourself wanting clarity about the future before being willing to take the next step in recovery?
- What does it look like for you to trust that Christ is the way, even when the path is not fully clear?
- How are you experiencing God working through small acts of love or service in your daily life?
Sunday Mass Readings
First Reading: Acts 6:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
Gospel: John 14:1-12
Reflection by Scott W.