Some kinds of spiritual experiences take place when we confront something larger than we are. We suspect that forces beyond our understanding are operating. We see a fleeting glimpse of the big picture and find humility in that moment.

Our journey through the Twelve Steps will bring about a spiritual experience of the same nature, only more profound and lasting. We undergo a continual process of ego-deflation, while at the same time we become more conscious of the larger perspective. Our view of the world expands to the point where we no longer possess an exaggerated sense of our own importance.

Through our new awareness, we no longer feel isolated from the rest of the human race. We may not understand why the world is the way it is or why people sometimes treat one another so savagely. But we do understand suffering and, in recovery, we can do our best to alleviate it. When our individual contribution is combined with others, we become an essential part of a grand design. We are connected at last.

We approach the "God Thing"—as some refer to spirituality in recovery—from different places. It can be a major obstacle, a great relief, or something we consistently grapple with. Many of us struggle to identify a set of beliefs—or any belief—that sits right with us, while others find the exploration itself to be profound and rewarding. Some of us have always considered ourselves to be people of faith and find that recovery helps us walk our talk.

Some of us have no spiritual belief or practice to speak of when we begin our recovery journey. But we adapt easily to the idea of a power greater than ourselves. We're told that it can be anything as long as it's loving. The group? Nature? An aspirational "higher self"? No problem! Praying to one or more of these powers makes practical sense for many members. Others of us share about our experience staying clean without getting hung up on defining a Higher Power. "When a longtime member spoke of their failed attempt to create a best friend with super powers, it dawned on me that belief in a deity or supreme being wasn't required," one member shared. "What a relief! Atheists stay clean in NA, too."

Then there are those of us who struggle with it all. We don't believe, but we don't not believe. Infinite choices confound and frustrate us. We bristle at "loving," obsess about contradictions in NA literature, or feel pressure to invent something innovative. We're challenged by one member's belief that we are relapse-bound without capital-G God and another member's flippant attitude about needing one at all. We feel we have to believe. What if we never get there?

"You're actually doing better than you're feeling," a member whose recovery we respect offers. "There may not be a place to 'get to.' Why not do the next right thing and stay in the struggle?" In practical terms, that means taking actions that align with our values or beliefs—even when we're still figuring those out.

"In a pinch, you can borrow my Higher Power," another member offers. "Maybe it's enough that I believe in something that helps me stay clean." Why not? We'll try it—because we have choices in NA. Plus, we need a break from the struggle.