What Is the Serenity Prayer and Should Christians Pray It?
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The Serenity Prayer is such a gift to Christians who are struggling. It focuses our attention on God’s sovereignty in all things, and as such is a great tool for acknowledging that there is nothing that He cannot do in our trials. It encourages us to rely on our faith in the midst of life’s challenges, reminds us to surrender control to God while still owning responsibility for our actions. However, is it really an appropriate prayer for Christians?
I first encountered the Serenity Prayer when my father was in rehabilitation for alcoholism. The prayer was something that was integral to the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings that were part of his program. At the time, I was only 16 years old, and my mother and I were attending Al-Anon meetings for family members at the hospital where he was receiving care. I’ll never forget standing in the hospital cafeteria one day with all of the patients and their loved ones as we said the Serenity Prayer in unison. At the time, I realized that it wasn’t just for my dad’s benefit, because it really touched my soul as well. Decades later, I’ve come to see that prayers that others have written, based on biblical truth, are incredibly valuable–and sometimes more accessible to those who are nominal or non-believers.
What Is the Serenity Prayer and Where Did it Come From?
Though closely associated with Alcoholics Anonymous, whose participants recite the prayer at the beginning and the end of meetings, the Serenity Prayer’s origin is older than AA. Though there is some dispute about its author, most recognize that it was written by Reinhold Neibuhr, an ordained Protestant minister born in 1892. Neibuhr was also a professor at Union Theological Seminary for 30 years. He was a very vocal political man and wrote widely on the subjects of religion, politics, and public policy.
Historians note that the Serenity Prayer was not a separate written work, but was something Neibuhr added at the end of his sermons. In the article, The Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the Serenity to...", Chad Napier writes, “Its promotion was likely from a diary excerpt from Niebuhr’s student and collaborator, Winnifred Crane Wygal. Wygal placed the prayer in newspaper articles as early as the 1930s and then, in an altered form, in a book of worship in 1940.” By the time we recited it in Al-Anon, it had been in use by Alcoholics Anonymous since 1948.
What Are the Words of the Serenity Prayer?
First, it helps to know that the word “Serenity” means a state of being calm and full of peace. That’s what the person using the prayer is asking for from the Lord.
In the article “The Serenity Prayer: Applying 3 Truths from the Bible,” the writers note that there was a shorter and a longer version of the famous prayer.
The shorter reads:
“God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
the courage to change the things we can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
This is likely the version we are most familiar with, and the version that we kept on a plaque in our home after my father returned from the hospital. These days, you can find thousands of items that contain the prayer, proving that the message has staying power all these years after its writing.
The longer version of the prayer reads:
“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 and ever in the next.
Amen.”
Because the prayer addresses God and includes such Christian themes as acceptance, bearing our cross, eternal life, and surrender to God’s plan for our lives, we may wonder if these words were spoken by someone in the Bible. But is the Serenity Prayer (in either form) printed within the Bible?
Is the Serenity Prayer Found in the Bible/Is it Biblical?
While the exact wording of the Serenity Prayer is not found in the Bible, we can find verses that support the themes expressed in the prayer:
- Waiting/Accepting/Submitting
”Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14).
”[B]ut those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
"Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart will rejoice in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in you” (Psalm 33:20-22). - Courage
”The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
”Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).
”Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). - Wisdom
"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).
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).”
”It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
I would venture to say that the Christian life is well expressed in the Serenity Prayer. We accept that God is sovereign over everything, and intimately involved in the lives of His children. Therefore, when things go wrong, we look to the Lord for courage and strength. In everything, we need wisdom to know how God wants us to live and to handle each day as it comes. And we do so with a focus on our future when we will be with Him in paradise forever.
Why Do So Many People Turn to This Prayer in Hard Times?
I believe people rely on the Serenity Prayer in times of trouble for a number of reasons. First of all, it’s easy to remember. Second, it lays out precisely how to handle difficult days: by fixing our eyes on the One True God who sees all and knows His plan for every situation. It follows the various calls to action in Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways and He will make your paths straight.”
Third, I think it’s accessible for many nominal believers. Even if they don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior, they may have a belief in God. This simple prayer can bring comfort and peace in trying times, even for those who don’t understand that Jesus is the source of everything we need to endure.
Knowing all that we now know about this prayer, should Christians pray it? I don’t see why God would fault anyone for coming to Him– acknowledging His power to give us peace– asking for help to accept a problem, praying to have courage, and seeking wisdom. I think the Serenity Prayer is a great addition to memorizing Scripture, like the passages above. I truly believe the Serenity Prayer was a blessing to my family so many years ago, and continues to lead those who are suffering to call out to God, regardless of how much they understand of Him.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Vadimguzhva
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).