The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer has brought comfort and peace to millions of people around the world. It is a reminder that no matter what challenges we may be facing, we can find peace and serenity by turning to a higher power and seeking guidance.

What is the Serenity Prayer?

The Serenity Prayer is a widely-known prayer that is often used in recovery programs and in situations where people are seeking peace, courage, and wisdom. It is often associated with Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs.

The prayer goes:

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Many people find that reciting the prayer or using it as a source of inspiration can be helpful in times of stress or uncertainty.

The Serenity Prayer has been translated into many languages and used by people from many religious traditions. It is also used by those who do not subscribe to any particular faith.

Who wrote it?

The Serenity Prayer was written by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the 1930s. Niebuhr was a Protestant minister and a professor of theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

The prayer was originally published in a magazine called “Christianity and Crisis” in 1943 and has since become widely known and used in various religious and secular contexts.

Serenity Prayer (Full Version)

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.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace, taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Serenity Prayer in the Bible? What Bible verse is it?

The Serenity Prayer is not a verse from the Bible, but the ideas and themes expressed in the prayer are consistent with Christian teachings that can be found in various passages of the Bible.

For example, the prayer’s call for the courage to change the things we can is similar to the biblical injunction to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Similarly, the prayer’s request for wisdom to know the difference between what we can and cannot change is similar to the biblical call to seek wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

What does the Serenity Prayer mean?

The prayer is meant to help people find peace and acceptance in difficult situations and to have the strength and wisdom to make positive changes in their lives. It is a way of asking for help in finding the right path and making good decisions.

Where did it come from?

The Serenity Prayer was written by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr in the early 1940s. The prayer has its roots in Christianity, but it is not tied to any specific denomination or religious tradition. It has become widely known and used in 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and is often recited at meetings and in personal meditation as a way to find peace and acceptance in the face of life’s challenges.

Is the Serenity Prayer Catholic or Christian?

While the prayer is based on Christian teachings and principles, it is not exclusive to Catholicism or any one Christian denomination, and it is often used by people of different faiths and backgrounds.

What religion is the Serenity Prayer?

The Serenity Prayer is not tied to any specific religion. It is a prayer for serenity and guidance that is meant to be relevant and helpful to people of all faiths.

Is it copyrighted?

The Serenity Prayer is not copyrighted, which means that it is in the public domain and can be used freely by anyone. While the prayer is not copyrighted, it is generally considered good etiquette to give credit to the original source when quoting or using the prayer in published or public materials. In this case, the original source of the prayer is theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who wrote it in the early 1940s.

Is the Serenity Prayer only for alcoholics?

The Serenity Prayer is often associated with 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, the prayer is not exclusive to alcoholics or to people in recovery from addiction. It is a widely known and widely used prayer that is meant to provide comfort, strength, and wisdom to anyone who seeks it.

Why did Reinhold Niebuhr write the Serenity Prayer?

Niebuhr was a Lutheran pastor and an influential figure in the social justice movements of the time. It is not clear exactly why Niebuhr wrote the prayer, but it is likely that he wrote it as a way to provide comfort, strength, and guidance to people who were facing difficult situations or challenges in their lives.