Recovery article

Step 3 of AA: Turning It Over — What "God's Will" Really Means

Step 3 is the decision step. You don't have to understand it perfectly to take it. You just have to be willing to stop running the show.

Article summary

Step 3 is the decision step. You don't have to understand it perfectly to take it. You just have to be willing to stop running the show.

Key topics include Step 3: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.", What "Turning It Over" Means, The Decision, Not the Perfection.

What this article covers

  • Step 3: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him."
  • What "Turning It Over" Means
  • The Decision, Not the Perfection
  • For Non-Religious People

Frequently asked questions

What is Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous?

Step 3 of AA is: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." It is called the decision step — the moment you commit to releasing self-will and trusting that a power greater than yourself can guide your recovery.

What does "turning it over" mean in Step 3 of AA?

Turning it over in Step 3 means releasing the exhausting need to control outcomes — the obsessive planning, the manipulating, the trying to manage how everything turns out. It does not mean becoming passive; it means trading the illusion of control for actual peace.

How do you work Step 3 without believing in God?

If religious language does not resonate, translate Step 3 as: "What would the wisest, most recovered version of me do right now?" Turning it over can mean acting on principles — honesty, service, humility — rather than on self-centered fear.