Serenity Now

Serenity Now

Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer has been used by Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery groups for decades.

And for good reason.

People in recovery admit that their lives are no longer manageable. They have sought peace from the chaos through substance abuse, but that has left their lives in even more devastation. They realize that true peace comes only from accepting what’s out of their control, and in taking responsibility for what’s in their control.

No one can function long without a sense of peace or security. If your life is in constant conflict—with yourself, with others—you’ll never be able to move beyond self-interest to embrace what matters. You’ll hide in the safety of superficial living. Or worse, you’ll medicate with substances like alcohol.

You don’t need to be in AA to admit that life often feels unmanageable. If God is your higher power, ask for serenity now.

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. —Reinhold Niebuhr