About Step 7.

We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

In just a few days we will have entered July of 2026. This is the seventh month of the year. In our recovery meetings it is customary practice to have the first meetings slots of the month talk about the corresponding step of the 12-step program. So, January is the first step, February the second, so on and so forth. Step 7 to some might not seem so bad, most of us recognize we have issues whether great or small. I mean after all; we are in a program of recovery for what most of us could and should consider a big issue. Even asking God to remove our shortcomings might seem straightforward if we recognize them. This process can get a little bit more complicated than it seems though.

What if we have a tough time recognizing our shortcomings, if this is the case, we certainly have some we are not aware of also. But others almost certainly are aware of them. In this case it is my hope we would take a few steps back in the 12 steps to step number 4.

“We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

This step should help us focus back in on what it is we need to work on with God.

There is another unique challenge that step 7 presents us as well. Actually “Letting Go” of our shortcomings so that God may take them. It is easy to think we will behave one way in a situation, but what we actually do when under pressure is entirely another. Letting go of sin should seem like a no-brainer, and it is, but the act of letting go is the hardest part. When faced with the reality of great change good or bad, it is never easy for us to change our ways that have been engrained for so long. Letting God in to change them for us is certainly even harder at times because it then involves some real work afterwards. If we let go, not only will he take it, but he will begin challenging us to a new life. But the new life is filled with only the best of gifts. Peace, joy, love, and sanity. Let us not forget sobriety as well!

This is where accountability and the community of our group come into play. When confessing to one another, we begin to open our mind to some issues we may have not acknowledged before. When we talk, we begin to learn we were not alone in our struggle to let go of the pain. We open to the truth of others and learn from their past on how to better our future. Step 7 can be challenging, but it is also freeing. Never forget to reach out when faced with struggles or when there are questions left unanswered.

Gaven F.

A grateful believer in Jesus Christ.