Steps 1 and 2 of the 12-Step program deal with life realizations and internal discoveries. Step 3 is the first step that actually asks you to DO something- it asks you to make a decision. Step 3 is, “We made a decision to turn our will and lives over to the care of God as we understood God.” You prepared for step 3 when you came to believe in a Higher Power in step 2, but recovery is about a lot more than just having faith. In step 3, you take the faith that you have found, use it to let go of your life, and give it over to God. An LDS lifestyle and dogma present an easy platform to approach this step.
Surrender Gives You Power With Step 3
Normally, giving your life over to someone, or something else would take away your sense of self and the power you have over your life. This was true when you gave your life over to your addiction. You lost yourself in your disease and had no power over your own life anymore. In giving your life over to God, you will have the opposite outcome. You will find a greater sense of self, more purpose, and more control over your own life and actions as you allow God to lead you where He wants you to go. Surrendering your life to his will is the only way for you to reclaim your life as your own, and free yourself from your addiction.
Step 3 as a Launch Point
You don’t have to accomplish surrendering your whole life over to God in order to complete step 3, you just have to make the decision to do so. The rest of the steps in the 12-step program are meant to guide you through the process of surrendering to God. You will revisit step 3 time and time again as you reaffirm your commitment to becoming sober, and you reaffirm your commitment to God. Essentially, step 3 is the point where you decide to begin your journey of completing the other steps.
Making the decision to turn your life over to God can be accomplished in part through more time spent meditating and praying. In reality, this is a decision that you will make many times throughout your recovery. Each time you come upon a situation, especially a taxing one, you can decide to submit to God’s will, or to assert your own. You will see more progress and find more happiness as you settle into the habit of giving your life over to God day-by-day, and minute-by-minute.