True surrender isn’t just asking for help—it’s offering ourselves to God’s plan.

In the Program, I’ve been building the muscle of asking God for help. “Help me be sober! Help me turn away from lust! Help me surrender! Help me! Help me! Help me!” As I strengthen this muscle—which sometimes requires an act of complete reliance—I’m also shifting my perspective to a gentler way.

First, I believe God has a plan for me—a plan to keep me sober one day at a time. So rather than asking God to help me, I ask, “How can I help You, God, accomplish Your plan for me?”

Next, I say out loud, “I quiet down my thoughts and emotions.” Then, I say, “God, speak to me and invite me to do Your will.” Then, I simply keep my mouth shut and listen.

At first, the silence is uncomfortable. My mind still wants to race, to negotiate, to seek reassurance. I catch myself wanting to fill the space with more words, more prayers, more requests. But I resist. Instead, I lean into the stillness.

In that quiet, something shifts. The desperate grasping eases. My heart softens. I begin to sense—not in a booming voice, but in a deep knowing—that God has already been leading me. His plan isn’t hidden; it’s unfolding. The steps aren’t complicated; they’re simple acts of faith.

Maybe it’s a nudge to reach out to a friend in recovery. Maybe it’s a reminder to stay present, breathe, and take things one moment at a time. Maybe it’s the deep peace of knowing I don’t have to figure everything out—I just have to take the next right step.

I realize that asking, “How can I help you, God?” isn’t about striving harder or doing more. It’s about trusting more. It’s about surrendering the battle and walking in the promise that’s already been given to me.

So, I listen. And when the answer comes—whether in a whisper, a feeling, or a small opportunity—I take it. Because this is what true partnership with God looks like: not begging for help, but stepping into His plan with faith.