The Serenity Prayer
Have you heard of what’s called the Serenity Prayer?
It was penned (or at least the story goes) by Reinhold Niebuhr, a professor at Union Seminary in New York City in 1939 and made popular, of course, by Alcoholics Anonymous. In fact, one of AA’s founders, an Episcopal priest named Sam Shoemaker, helped introduce the prayer there.
Let’s take a look at it.
God grant me. . .
- The serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
We often make the mistake of buying into the system of the world, which says my life should be built on what I can see; that if I feel it, it must be true; and if I don’t feel it, it’s probably not be true. Right?
Wrong. In fact, feelings are very slippery things. I’m a little tired this morning. Does that mean God must not like me today?
No. All it means is that I didn’t sleep well. End of story. I’m still a child of God. He’s promised to be faithful no matter what. And he says, “I will never leave you or forsake you, and nothing can take you out of my hand, including a grumpy, bad night’s sleep.”
I cannot change that. And nothing I do can change that.
But this portion of the prayer not only applies here, but even in the face of enormous tragedy. It is actually a tactic of the evil one to get you so stirred up around global events (over which you may have no influence) that you can’t see the need in front of your face. It renders you quite ineffective.
One of the courageous things we do in our funeral services is to affirm the eternal truths of God within the midst of human tragedy. Nothing, and I mean nothing, negates the promises God has made to us of his faithfulness, of his purposes, and the fact that he will not leave us or forsake us.
I cannot change that. And nothing I do can change that.
And I’m grateful.
- Courage to change the things I can.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus offers us comfort, peace, and the promise of his presence and faithfulness. But he also says some very uncomfortable things, things we don’t like to talk about, like: “Sell your possessions and give alms, make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure from heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34).
I want to add that your perspective determines what you consider valuable. Because if you live a life based on what your television commentators say, if you live a life based on what you can see, you will hoard. Whether that’s relationships, possessions, or time. Whether that’s more and more educational opportunities. Whether that’s the continual accumulation of new opportunities for entertainment, travel, and diversion.
None of which, you see, is bad in and of itself. “The earth is the Lord’s” (Ps. 24:1a) and we’re meant to enjoy it. But if my focus is only sacrificing what I earn for the sake of my own desires, I’m not living like a child of the kingdom of heaven but of earth.
That’s the heartbeat of the serenity prayer. I live in a world, and I have some responsibility before God to be his servant in that world. I can’t change the whole world, but I can be available in the places where he has put me.
God will give me the courage to change the things I can.
And I’m grateful.
- The wisdom to know the difference
I don’t always like it, but I must accept the fact that God has given me a specific sphere of influence. I’m willing to let go of what God has not given me so I can focus more of my energy and attention on the things in front of me.
And out of that, I’m able to have, by his mercy, the courage to change the things I can. I can look at my world and say, “I can’t change the war in Afghanistan, but God, what would you have me do here?”
Be open to see how God might open doors in your life for you to give and serve. Because God loves your community just as much as he does any other one on the planet. And he will grant you the wisdom to be effective right where he has put you.
Is it easy work? No. Will God give you what you need for it? The answer is “Oh, more than you will ever need.” Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). He will give you everything you need to serve him where he has put you.
So don’t allow the world to wrap you into a mold of fear, worry, and ineffectiveness, which can lead you to the escape of seeking more and more entertainment and diversions. It plays havoc on your body. It wrecks your soul. And it makes you ineffective in serving.
Instead, here’s what we should say: “Lord God, I am yours, and I am here, and I belong to you. I want to be available for you. But I don’t know how to do it. Give me the eyes to let go of the fears, the grace to see where you have placed me, and the courage to be an effective although small voice in the lives of the people that you have sent my way.”
He does. He will.
And I’m grateful.
How does the Serenity Prayer apply to you or to today’s world? Share this blog and your comments on Twitter and include my username, @revgregbrewer.
(This post is an adaption of Bishop Brewer’s sermon on August 7, 2016, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Fruitland Park, Fla.)
Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.