"We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn't it because self-reliance failed us? Self-reliance was good as far as it went, but it didn't go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse.
"Perhaps there is a better way - we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.
"We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear." (AA, pg 68)
Fear indeed is a major problem for many people, including those who drink over their problems. Alcoholics Anonymous provides nothing but empty comfort and comfort measures to deal with the problem of fear.
This "corrosive thread" is not something that we outgrow, nor can we reason fear out of our lives, nor do we talk our fears out of our lives.
Only the perfect love of God can take on our fears, and He doesn't merely "deal" with it:
"There is no fear in
love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)
Not "negotiate", not "beg and plea", and certainly not "outgrow", but CAST OUT! The Amplified Bible is more compelling on this point:
"There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [a]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [b]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]." (1 John 4: 18, AMP)
And who sends fear "out of doors?" God, but we must receive the growing revelation of His love through the sacrifice of His Son.
Instead of outgrowing our fear, let us grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18).
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