Dear Friends,
This morning, I find myself overwhelmed by feelings of anger, sorrow, and confusion. The troubling events unfolding in Los Angeles and across Europe have pierced through my usual sense of peace. In this state of distress, there’s a part of me that wants to lash out—to find someone to blame, to make sense of the chaos by taking a side. But I’ve come to recognize that beneath these emotions lies something deeper: a profound sense of powerlessness.
In recovery, we often hear the phrase, "Let go and let God." But truly living this out requires genuine faith—faith that God is not only present, but actively in charge of His Kingdom and the universe.
You might ask, “All this faith talk sounds nice, but how does one actually find such faith—and with it, peace?”
Let me share some thoughts drawn from the experience of recovery, from philosophy, and from the wisdom of scholars and spiritual teachers throughout time:
From Recovery (AA Wisdom):
“We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.”
— Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 30
“When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation—some fact of my life—unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.”
— Acceptance passage, AA Big Book, p. 417
From Philosophy:
“He who is brave is free.”
— Seneca
“Do not seek to have events happen as you want them but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well.”
— Epictetus, Enchiridion
These Stoic teachings mirror the wisdom of Step 3 in recovery: to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a Higher Power. In letting go of control, we gain the strength to endure and the clarity to act with purpose, not panic.
From Scripture:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28
From Latter-day Saints & Christian Theology:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
— John 14:27
“Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope.”
— 2 Nephi 31:20, Book of Mormon
“Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
— Alma 32:21, Book of Mormon
Final Thoughts:
In moments when the world feels overwhelming, we can return to this spiritual principle: Let go, and let God. This does not mean disengaging from the world or ignoring its pain. Rather, it is a courageous act of trust—a choice to live from a deeper source of wisdom than our own fear and frustration.
We may not be able to fix all that is broken around us, but we can begin by surrendering our need to control it. And from that surrender comes something powerful: a peace that passes understanding, and a faith that sustains us in the darkest hour.
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