An AA sister in Palm Desert shared, “You cannot do God’s work, and He’s not going to do yours.”
A normal person would not need to hear this, but I am not normal and need to hear this often.
The phrase, “You cannot do God’s work,” should be an obvious truth; a normal person might think to himself, “it goes without saying, I cannot possibly do God’s work; God is God, and I am me.”
But for a self-possessed person of my type, it is not apparent that I cannot do God’s work; my behaviours frequently suggest this is the case.
I judge, condemn, correct, and demand as if I am God. I demand the respect and admiration of all around me, and I am resentful when it is not given. I dictate wisdom and directions to all and sundry, whether they want it or not. I feel superior and supreme; I seem to operate with the unconscious thought, the ‘world should honour me.’
I very much need the reminder, “I am not God and cannot do God’s work.”
And “God will not do my work;” another unnecessary reminder. A normal person, on hearing this, might think to himself, “of course God is not going to reach down and do my work; I have to do it.”
However, as with the first phrase, I need to be reminded that “God will not do my work.”
My default mode is ‘lazy.’ Thinking myself spiritual, I sit on my butt and declare that I have turned everything over to God; it is now up to Him.
I treat God like a cosmic bellhop. “Do this, get that, find me a parking space.”
I forget the Lord’s Prayer, “our Father, which art in heaven.” He is in heaven, and I am here. He is not going to make me breakfast, and he will not arrange the world to suit me.
In conclusion, I shared this saying with a sponsee. I recited, “you cannot do God’s job and he is not going to do yours;” he laughed and said, “my first reaction to that is disappointment.”
Stating an obvious truth is never a bad thing, especially in an AA meeting.
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