Tonight at my home group, the chair read the 9th Step Promises and shared what her experience was with them. She mentioned that she went two years with them hanging on the wall of her home group at the time and she never really saw them. She shared it wasn’t until she was two years sober that she was reading them with her sponsor and she had her Ah Ha moment and thought, “Well THAT one has come true, and so has that one and that one…” etc. She opened the meeting up for a show of hands and there were so many beautiful shares ranging everything from, “Well, these will never come true in my life,” “He has to be lying. How could these actually come true?” to “I have certainly had them come true in my life.”

One person shared that her sponsor asked her one day, “Are you living in the Promises of Alcoholism found on page 52 (“The Bedevilments”) or are you living in the Promises of the 12 Steps (found on page 83 – the 9th Step Promises)?” I’ve read and identified with The Bedevilments many many times but I’ve never heard then referred to as The Promises of Alcoholism. That was kind of an Ah Ha moment for me. I could truly relate to that.

I shared, “I believe my sponsor taught me that every single promise in our book, regardless of where it can be found, is conditional. Bill starts off with a condition in the first sentence…”If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.” The first four words of that sentence are the condition. If am willing to take any pain necessary, then I will receive a blessing. Then I shared a question for the room and said, “But I have a question. I have been sober for quite some time and don’t think I’ve ever really known the answer to what “halfway through” is. In your experience, can anyone share what that means to them?”

I’m grateful that my home group is willing to share their experience. I heard several really great answers but the general consensus was that statement could refer to one of two things… either halfway through the Steps or halfway through Step 9. It does kind of make sense. I am tending to lean toward the phrase not so much meaning “halfway through the 12 Steps” or “halfway through recovery” but meaning that as we begin and continue making amends, even before finishing them all, we start to experience powerful changes—relief, freedom, and a spiritual shift. Bill is assuring us that we don’t have to complete every amend to see results; progress brings transformation.

Almost every promise in the Big Book begins with a condition:

• “If we are painstaking about this phase of our development…” (Step 9 promises)
• “If we are honest…” (Step 1–4 teachings)
• “If we continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear…” (Step 10 promises)
• “If we maintain a fit spiritual condition…” (Step 11).

The word “if” is key — it makes clear that the promises are not automatic. They depend on whether we take the action suggested. Bill is reminding us that recovery is not passive. God provides the grace and power, but we must do the footwork. The promises aren’t rewards for “believing” alone; they’re outcomes of disciplined spiritual action. That’s why my sponsor emphasized that all promises — regardless of where they appear in the book — are contingent on our willingness and effort. Bill is pointing out that when we act (painstaking Step 9 amends), then the promises unfold. And this conditional pattern is consistent throughout the Big Book — every promise hangs on whether we are willing to practice the principle behind it.

Step 1–3: Surrender & Decision

• “If you are seriously alcoholic, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution.” (p. 25)

• “If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution.” (p. 25)

• “If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it—then you are ready to take certain steps.” (p. 58)

Condition: Willingness & honesty.
Result: Readiness for recovery.

Step 4–5: Inventory & Confession

• “If we were honest with ourselves, we could admit that when we had placed ourselves in God’s hands, we could commence to live on a different basis.” (p. 53–54)

• “If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.” (p. 66)

Condition: Honesty & willingness.
Result: Freedom from old fears and resentments.

Step 6–7: Willingness & Humility

• “If we can answer to our satisfaction, we are now ready to approach Step Seven.” (p. 75)

• “If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.” (p. 76)

Condition: Readiness to change.
Result: God begins removing defects.

Step 9: Amends (The Ninth Step Promises)

• “If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.” (p. 83)

• “If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience.” (p. 70, related).

Condition: Sincere amends.
Result: Freedom, serenity, usefulness.

Step 10: Daily Maintenance

• “If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us.” (p. 85)

• “If we continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear, and if we continue to set these matters straight at once, we have entered the world of the Spirit.” (p. 84–85)

Condition: Vigilance and corrective action.
Result: Daily reprieve and spiritual awakening.

Step 11: Prayer & Meditation

• “If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us.” (p. 85)

• “If we are not in too much of a hurry, and if we will pause when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action, we are given the right answer.” (p. 87)

Condition: Prayerful pause.
Result: Guidance and peace.

Step 12: Spiritual Awakening & Service

• “If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago.” (p. 44)

• “If an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead.” (p. 14–15)

Condition: Service and carrying the message.
Result: Continued sobriety and growth.

My Takeaway:

Bill W. and the early members consistently used conditional language to emphasize that recovery is never automatic. Every promise is tied to action, willingness, and spiritual practice. God does the miracle — but only if we do the footwork.

In love & service,