The Serenity Prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. The prayer has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs.
The best-known form is:
“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 reminds us that we cannot control everything, and that striving for control can be destructive. We want to be strong and to be independent and to have the right answers. But the truth is, we are human, which means for as wonderful and gifted and wise as we are, we are also weak and vulnerable and, at times, lacking in knowledge or perspective.
It makes sense that people struggling with addictions would find this prayer so helpful. In acknowledging our weakness, we can actually gain in strength and wisdom and peace. In acknowledging our weakness, we can be aware that we have need of God and others to make us whole and holy.
Are there people in your life who help you grow in faith and wisdom? Think about how they treated you and others. Were they full of themselves? Were they prideful? Or were they humble and loving? What can we learn from these people? How can our weakness help us live more abundantly?
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