What is a God Box?

Hint: You don’t need to be religious to use one!

A God Box is a box used to put thoughts, worries, and obsessions in – it is an intentional act of letting go and giving negativity over to a higher power. 

Don’t let the term God Box intimidate you if you aren’t religious. The higher power that the God Box represents can be the group of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, the universe, nature, or whatever force we believe in that is bigger and more powerful than we are individually.

Writing down our obsessions and letting them go is a recovery tool every addict can benefit from.

Using a God Box in Recovery

A powerful tool for strong sobriety

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains that once we have the first drink or drug, an obsession to keep using begins. Breaking that obsession is the single biggest roadblock between us and sobriety. Yet, even in the face of withdrawal symptoms and terror, millions and millions of us have broken that obsession and gone on to live meaningful and fulfilling lives. How?

It’s a simple answer – but not an easy one. We break the obsession by asking God or a twelve-step program to remove it from us. Using a God Box can help us quiet the obsessive thought to use. 

Some people have formal prayer boxes, but any box will work as a God Box. Simply write the obsession down on a piece of paper and put it in the box. You can say a prayer for God to remove the obsession or just ask your higher power is to remove it from you. As you put the written note in the God Box, imagine giving the weight of it away and LETTING IT GO. 

Then walk away, go to a meeting, call your sponsor, or a friend and trust your higher power to do the rest. If the obsession returns, put it into the God Box again. Keep having faith and repeat the letting go process until the obsession leaves you. Be patient with yourself and remember that letting go and letting God has paved a successful path to sobriety for every addict and alcoholic that has come before you.

What to Put in a God Box

Releasing worries and fears

A God Box can hold all our worries, fears, obsessions, and troubles. The list of what to put into it is personal for everyone, but here are some ideas to help you start using one:

• The desire to drink or use drugs 
• Obsessive or intrusive thoughts
• Worries about things we can’t control 
• Any fears that block us from happiness 
• Unrealistic expectations 
• Circumstances we struggle to accept 
• People we worry about 
• Emotional pain
• Feelings of anger and disappointment 
• Prayers the future 

Remember to use the God Box for positive things, too! It’s incredible to look back at notes in the box and see how our higher power has been worked in our lives!

Using the Third Step Prayer with a God Box

A prayer to help us let go and let God

For those who pray, the Third Step Prayer from Alcoholics Anonymous can be recited after putting something into the God Box.

Here is the Third Step Prayer!

God (Higher Power), I offer myself to thee to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love, and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always.

The Third Step Prayer reminds us that a loving power stronger than us is in control. It teaches us to have faith that our higher power wants what’s best for us and that we don’t need to worry or manipulate life’s situations. Rather, we can let go and let God!

Struggling with Addiction? We Can Help!

Our programs can help you get clean and stay clean

At Breakthrough Recovery Outreach, our team is committed to giving every addict the best chance for sobriety. Our specialized programs and holistic treatment modalities are available to teens and adults.

Contact us and start your journey to recovery today!