The Serenity Prayer is a popular prayer that focuses on seeking serenity, courage, and wisdom from God. Though commonly associated with Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs, it was originally written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr around 1932. The most well-known form of the prayer goes:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
This prayer eloquently captures how we can surrender outcomes to God’s will, while still having the courage to work towards positive change. It’s a prayer for balance – accepting hardships with grace while exerting our agency with wisdom. Let’s explore the meaning behind each line of the Serenity Prayer.
Serenity to Accept What Cannot be Changed
The first line of the Serenity Prayer asks God for “serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” This speaks to the humility and grace needed to accept realities that are beyond our control. As humans, we often struggle to make peace with life circumstances that cause suffering and feel unjust. However, as the Bible teaches, we live in a fallen world filled with trials:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Since we cannot eliminate suffering in this lifetime, we have to learn acceptance. But this doesn’t mean resigning ourselves to fatalism or inaction. The prayer asks for serenity, which enables clarity and stillness, not passivity. Serenity allows us to see our circumstances honestly but with faith that God will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31).
Serenity also prepares our hearts to receive God’s comfort in suffering. As it says in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” With serenity, we open ourselves up to experience God’s nearness and peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). It keeps our hearts soft rather than bitter. Serenity allows us to say, as Jesus did, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Courage to Change What Can Be Changed
After surrendering outcomes we cannot control, the prayer asks for “courage to change the things I can.” Though we cannot eliminate suffering, we can still work to reduce it. We are called to be God’s hands and feet on earth. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).
Loving our neighbors requires courage and effort. It means feeding the hungry, visiting those in prison, defending the helpless, and freeing the oppressed (Matthew 25:35-36, Isaiah 1:17). The Bible repeatedly exhorts us to clothe the naked, comfort the mourner, welcome the stranger, care for the sick, and generosity towards the poor (James 1:27, Job 29:13, Hebrews 13:2, Matthew 10:8, Proverbs 14:31).
It takes courage to act on God’s calling for justice and mercy in a broken world. As Paul wrote, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). We honor God when we use our gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
Wisdom to Know the Difference
The final line of the Serenity Prayer asks for “wisdom to know the difference” between accepting and changing. Discerning where to direct our efforts requires prayer and discernment. As the book of James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
Wisdom protects us from wasting energy on unfruitful endeavors or trying to control what is God’s domain alone. Equally, it prevents apathy and rationalization when we could make a tangible difference. We gain wisdom by regularly seeking counsel from God (Proverbs 2:6), meditating on scripture (Psalm 119:99), and listening to wise advisors (Proverbs 12:15).
With wisdom, we can focus our efforts where they will bear fruit. We can balance working towards justice while resting in God’s sovereignty over final outcomes. We can know when to act, when to accept, and when to pray. Wisdom allows us to live out the Serenity Prayer fully.
The Serenity Prayer in Context
While the Serenity Prayer is powerful in its short form, Reinhold Niebuhr originally wrote it as part of a longer prayer. This extended version provides helpful context:
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
This longer prayer expands upon the themes of surrender, courage, and wisdom. It encourages living in the present, trusting God’s plan, and finding contentment. The essence remains seeking God’s help to respond well to both blessings and hardships.
Applying the Serenity Prayer
The wisdom in the Serenity Prayer applies broadly to the many circumstances where we encounter difficulty and injustice. Consider how you can apply its principles in situations like:
- A debilitating illness or disability
- The death of a loved one
- A natural disaster
- The unwise choices of friends or family
- Social injustice and corruption
- Negative habits we struggle to overcome
When dealing with these types of difficult situations, the Serenity Prayer guides us to:
- Accept the realities we cannot change
- Honestly assess what we can change
- Work courageously to create change where possible
- Release the outcomes to God rather than be consumed by anger or anxiety
- Trust that God can redeem any circumstance for good (Romans 8:28)
This process requires continual reassessment as circumstances evolve. We may have to accept difficult realities in one season of life and then actively work to change them in another. By regularly praying for serenity, courage and wisdom, we can adapt appropriately.
The Serenity Prayer brings peace
In a life filled with uncertainty, the Serenity Prayer provides a reassuring guidepost. It reminds us to stay rooted in faith rather than reacting out of fear. By surrendering control, we free ourselves from the weight of fixing every problem. We make room for God’s guidance and redemption. Though injustice and suffering still incite righteous anger, we avoid bitterness and remain motivated by love.
By actively engaging in God’s work, we find purpose even in the midst of challenges. With wisdom, we can focus on bearing fruit rather than chasing perfection. God invites us to participate in the process of renewal, even if we don’t see the outcomes. Fully embracing the Serenity Prayer brings peace and clarity to our calling.