Fear is one of the biggest barriers to recovery for all AA members. It whispers lies: “You can’t do this. You’re not strong enough. People will judge you. You’ll fail.” If you’ve worked through a 12-step program, you know that Step 4 asks you to take a fearless moral inventory—and for most of us, that starts with naming the fears we’ve been running from, whether we’re afraid today or afraid of things to come.
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That’s where the AA Fear Prayer comes in. It’s a simple, powerful prayer from page 68 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous that has helped thousands surrender their fear to God and redirect their focus to what truly matters. In this post, I’ll walk you through what this prayer is, where it appears, how to use it with the fear inventory, and how to apply it to the specific fears that show up in recovery—especially the sense of hopelessness and negative feelings that plague so many people early in their spiritual experience.
Overcoming fear is central to the recovery journey. The AA Fear Prayer helps redirect our focus from fear to faith.
The AA Fear Prayer (Full Text)
The AA Fear Prayer
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“We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be.”
— Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book), p. 68
That’s it. Simple. Profound. Two requests wrapped into one:
Remove our fear: Surrender the fear to God and ask Him to take it.
Direct our attention: Replace the fear focus with attention to God’s will for us.
The beauty of this prayer is that it doesn’t ask us to pretend fear doesn’t exist. It acknowledges the fear, brings it to God, and then refocuses us on what matters: living according to His direction, not our fear’s direction.
Where It Appears in the Big Book & Why It Matters
The AA Fear Prayer appears on page 68 of Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), in the context of Step 4: “Made a fearless and searching moral inventory of ourselves.” It’s not a throwaway line—it’s central to how the program, described in AA literature and the first step prayer framework, asks you to work through fear with open mind and daily reflection practices.
The Big Book explains that fear is one of the primary character defects that fuels drinking and destructive behavior. Fear of poverty, fear of not being liked, fear of losing control, fear of God—these fears drive us to self-medicate with alcohol. Step 4 asks us to make a drastic self-appraisal, understand the true meaning of powerlessness, name these fears, understand them, and then (with this prayer) release them to the knowledge of his will.
The prayer works because it does two things at once for every human being seeking spiritual awakening:
It humbles us: We admit we can’t handle our fear alone and come before the Lord in daily meditation and morning prayer.
It redirects us: Instead of dwelling on fear and using morbid reflections, we focus on the way of strength and divine guidance—the fabric of our existence.
This is the essence of recovery: not white-knuckling through fear, but surrendering it and turning toward faith. With each morning prayer and daily spot check inventories, you are at maximum helpfulness to yourself and others, moving away from the way of weakness toward the way of patience and inner peace.
Step 4 asks us to climb the stairs of self-examination, facing our fears along the way.
Fear Inventory Worksheet: How to Work the Fear Prayer
The Big Book guides you to create a fear inventory. This worksheet shows you how to structure it—and how to use the fear prayer with each fear. You can print this, write in it, and work through it slowly. There’s no rush.
My Fear
Why I Have This Fear
What It Threatens (Circle One)
My Prayer (Using the Fear Prayer)
Fear of relapse
Past attempts failed; I’m worried I can’t stay sober
Security / Esteem
“Remove my fear of relapse and direct my attention to my sobriety and Your will for me today.”
Fear of judgment
People know what I’ve done; I’m ashamed
Esteem / Relationships
“Remove my fear of what others think and direct my attention to living with integrity.”
Fear of poverty
Addiction cost me money; I worry about providing
Security / Ambitions
“Remove my fear about money and direct my attention to working hard and trusting You.”
Fear of intimacy
I’ve hurt people I love; I’m afraid to be vulnerable
Relationships / Esteem
“Remove my fear of closeness and direct me to healthy relationships and honesty.”
Fear of change
Life in recovery is unfamiliar; the unknown scares me
Security / Ambitions
“Remove my fear of the future and direct my attention to taking it one day at a time.”
How to Use This Worksheet:
Write down each fear you have (as many as come to mind).
For each fear, explain where it comes from. What happened? What are you afraid will happen?
Identify what part of yourself the fear threatens: your security (money, safety), your esteem (pride, self-worth), your relationships, or your ambitions.
Write out a personalized version of the fear prayer using the examples above.
Pray it. Out loud if possible. Surrender each fear as you pray.
Come back to this worksheet whenever that fear resurfaces.
The Big Book teaches that fear often masks a desire for self-will—we’re afraid because we’re trying to control something we can’t. By praying this prayer, we’re choosing trust over control.
5 Common Fears in Recovery & a Prayer for Each
Here are five fears that show up again and again in recovery. If one of these resonates with you, use the prayer provided—or adapt it to fit your situation.
1. Fear of Relapse & Staying Permanently Sick
What it feels like: “I’ll go back to drinking. All of this progress will disappear. I’m one bad day away from losing everything.”
A Prayer for This Fear:
“Dear Lord, remove my fear that I will relapse and get sick person thoughts again. Help me see that I am not the same person I was. Direct my attention today to the actions I can take—the meetings, the calls, the honesty—that keep me sober and in the ball rolling of recovery forward. I trust You with my future, not my fear. Help me maintain the spiritual life and inner strength you provide.”
2. Fear of Being Judged or Rejected
What it feels like: “People will always see me as the addict. My family won’t forgive me. I don’t deserve a second chance.”
A Prayer for This Fear (with Common Prayers in Recovery):
“God, remove my fear of judgment and help me find inner peace. Help me understand that I cannot control what others think—that least god worry over fellow man’s opinions chains me. Direct my attention to living with integrity, making amends where possible, and accepting Your grace, which is greater than anyone’s judgment. As a group member in recovery, help me share my personal relationships rebuilding. Let me forgive myself as You forgive me and experience the higher plane of existence that the second step prayer describes.”
3. Fear of Financial Instability
What it feels like: “I’ve lost so much money. I’ll never recover financially. I’m a burden to my family.”
A Prayer for This Fear:
“God, remove my fear about money and the future. Help me see that financial recovery is possible despite personal consequences of addiction. Direct my attention to the work I can do today, to being responsible, and to trusting that as I grow spiritually with substance use disorder recovery, my circumstances will improve. Grant me the intuitive thought and vision of god’s plan for my prosperity. Help me release the shame about my past and the sick people dynamics I once created.”
4. Fear of Abandonment or Losing Relationships
What it feels like: “The people I love will leave me. I don’t deserve real connection. I’ll end up alone.”
A Prayer for This Fear:
“God, remove my fear of being alone and my fear of losing people. Help me build healthy relationships based on honesty and vulnerability. Direct my attention to being present, trustworthy, and loving. Help me trust that real connection is possible and that I am worthy of it.”
5. Fear of the Unknown or Loss of Control
What it feels like: “I don’t know what sobriety looks like for me. I can’t control my life. I’m afraid of not knowing what comes next.”
A Prayer for This Fear:
“God, remove my fear of the future and my need to control everything. Help me accept that I can’t see the whole path—only the next step. Direct my attention to living today well, to taking actions aligned with Your will, and to trusting that the future will unfold as it should. Help me surrender.”
The AA Fear Prayer is about surrender and freedom—releasing fear and raising your hands to what comes next.
Biblical Narratives: Stories of Fear and Faith
The Bible is full of people who struggled with fear—and learned to trust God—from Bill W. onwards through centuries. Their stories show us that fear is not new, and that faith can overcome it. In the first time we face our largest fears, in the daily lives we build, we call upon the vision of god’s kingdom and the way of strength God provides. With morning meditation and daily reflection on scripture, we find maximum service through our human beings’ mutual support.
Jonah: Running from Fear
Jonah was terrified of his calling. God told him to preach repentance to Nineveh, and Jonah panicked. Instead of facing his fear, he ran—literally boarded a ship headed the opposite direction. But fear caught up with him. A storm, a whale, time alone in the dark—until finally, in desperation, he surrendered. He prayed, he was delivered, and he went to Nineveh. The lesson: running from fear doesn’t work. Surrender does.
Nicodemus: Fear of What Others Think
Nicodemus was a respected Pharisee who believed in Jesus—but was afraid of losing his status. So he came to Jesus at night, in secret. Fear kept him from openly following. But later, after the crucifixion, he risked his reputation to help bury Jesus with honor. He moved from fear-based faith to courageous faith. In recovery, we often start like Nicodemus: afraid of judgment, afraid of being seen. The AA Fear Prayer helps us move toward courageous living.
Joseph: Fear of Abandonment and Loss
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and wrongly imprisoned. He had every reason to be paralyzed by fear and bitterness. But he refused to let fear direct his life. He served faithfully, trusted God, and eventually his faithfulness was rewarded. His story teaches us that the character of our actions matters more than our circumstances.
Gomer: Fear, Shame, and Being Seen Again
Gomer was a prostitute, married to the prophet Hosea. She left, lived a life of shame, and ended up enslaved. Yet Hosea, following God’s command, bought her back. Gomer’s story is about redemption despite fear and shame. In recovery, many of us are like Gomer—afraid that our past defines us forever, afraid that we can’t be loved as we are. But the AA Fear Prayer and program teach us that we can be redeemed, restored, and loved.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AA Fear Prayer
Should I say the fear prayer out loud or silently?
Both work. Many people find that praying out loud makes the prayer feel more real and committed. It’s harder to dismiss or ignore when you’ve spoken the words. But if you’re in a situation where you can’t pray aloud, saying it silently is powerful too. What matters is that you mean it.
How often should I pray the fear prayer?
As often as you need it. Some days, multiple times. The Big Book doesn’t prescribe a set frequency. Use it when fear arises. Many people pray it every morning as part of a recovery routine, and again whenever a specific fear comes up. Think of it like a spiritual antibiotic—you take it when the infection is active.
Can I pray this prayer if I’m not Christian?
Absolutely. The AA program works for people of many faiths and no formal faith. You can replace “Him” and “He” with whatever term fits your Higher Power—God, the Universe, Spirit, the Force of Good, or whatever resonates with you. The principle of surrendering fear and seeking guidance is universal.
What’s the difference between the fear prayer and the AA prayer for anxiety?
The fear prayer (p. 68, Big Book) is specific to Step 4’s fear inventory. It’s about naming fears, understanding them, and surrendering them. The AA prayer for anxiety (covered in Post #25) is a daily prayer for managing anxiety and finding peace. Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes.
Does praying the fear prayer mean my fears will go away instantly?
Not always instantly, but over time, yes. The Big Book is honest about this: the prayer is a tool of surrender and redirection. You might still feel fear, but the prayer changes what you do with it. Instead of acting from fear, you act from faith. You pray, you take suggestions, you go to meetings, you call your sponsor. The fear diminishes as your trust grows.
Is the AA Fear Prayer biblical?
Yes, very much so. It aligns with 1 Peter 5:7 (“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”) and Philippians 4:6-7 (“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”). The Big Book draws heavily on Christian theology, and the fear prayer is a clear expression of biblical principles.
What if I’m angry with God about my addiction? Can I still pray this?
Yes. Bring your anger with you. God can handle it. Many people in recovery are angry—at God, at themselves, at life. That’s okay. Pray the fear prayer anyway. The act of praying, even when you’re angry, is an act of reaching out. Many people find that as they work the steps, their anger softens into understanding. Start where you are.
Resources & Crisis Support
If you’re struggling with fear, addiction, or thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out:
Remember: The AA Fear Prayer is not about pretending you don’t feel fear. It’s about refusing to let fear drive your decisions. Every time you pray it, you’re choosing trust over control, faith over panic, and connection to your Higher Power over isolation. Fear is real. So is God’s power to transform it. Work the prayer, work the inventory, and let recovery unfold.
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a Masters-level Practical Theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children's content and she illustrates children's books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
You can follow Eljoh on LinkedIn or Instagram.
