Prayer
The Relevance and Value of the Serenity Prayer
A fresh look at the original Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is not only relevant in our present time, but its value to humanity endures far beyond its original context.
The most common and well-known form of the Serenity Prayer is a foundational element of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-Step meetings and programs. It’s simple, memorable, and comforting.
It delivers on the inferred promise of its title—
God grant us the serenity
to accept the things we cannot change,
courage to change the things we can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
While studying towards certification in drug and alcohol abuse treatment, I went to various 12-Step meetings. The Serenity Prayer was more than a staple of each meeting, it was a unifying experience.
Author of the Serenity Prayer
But the Serenity Prayer of AA is a shorter version of the original prayer written by Rheinhold Niebuhr, a Lutheran pastor who became an important influencer in religion, politics, and public policy.
